Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposes a National goal of 100 percent access to affordable broadband in the country. According to the official FCC release, Rosenworcel seeks to gauge the progress of broadband deployment, focusing on crucial characteristics such as affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access to all Americans.
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Universal Broadband for All
Chairwoman Rosenworcel left no room for doubt in her assertion that access to affordable and high-speed internet is a necessity in the modern world.
"In today's world, everyone needs access to affordable, high-speed internet, no exceptions," said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. "It's time to connect everyone, everywhere. Anything short of 100 percent is just not good enough."
Ambitious Broadband Goals
The existing standard, established in 2015 at 25 Mbps for download and 3 Mbps for upload, is due for a significant upgrade, the release stated. As part of the plan, FCC now proposes to increase the national fixed broadband standard to 100 Mbps for download and 20 Mbps for upload, pushing internet service providers to enhance their offerings and reach more Americans.
Future-Ready Gigabit Goals
Anticipating future demands, Rosenworcel and FCC go one step further and outlined a separate national goal of 1 Gbps for download and 500 Mbps for upload, ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of digital innovation.
BEAD Program
US President Joe Biden has in June announced state allocations for USD 42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) programme as reported by TelecomTalk. This substantial funding will be distributed among the nation's 50 states and five overseas territories as part of Biden's ambitious plan to achieve universal broadband access for all Americans by the year 2030.
Also Read: US Govt Announces State Allocations for USD 42.45 Billion BEAD Programme
The proposed broadband goals set forth by Chairwoman Rosenworcel and the FCC signify a renewed commitment to bring high-speed internet to every corner of the nation. By increasing the national fixed broadband standard and setting ambitious targets, the FCC is taking decisive steps towards digital inclusion, opening up a world of opportunities in education, business, healthcare, and beyond.
