FCC abandons gigabit broadband goal
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has officially dropped the long-term broadband speed targets set during the Biden administration, which aimed for gigabit downloads and half-gigabit uploads. The FCC argues that future technological developments are unpredictable. Critics see this as a reduction in national ambition for internet speeds.
The FCC's decision formally retires speed benchmarks that were set in 2024, when the definition of broadband was raised from 25/3 Mbps to 100/20 Mbps. That earlier update came after years of criticism that the old standard failed to reflect real-world needs. The new report justifying the change cites rising speeds, increased competition, and falling prices, though some of that data reportedly traces back to industry lobbying groups rather than independent research.
The move follows a pattern of regulatory reversals. During the Trump era, Chairman Ajit Pai similarly argued that 25 Mbps was sufficient, a position that drew widespread pushback. Meanwhile, gigabit-class service has already become commercially available in select markets, with some providers offering multi-gigabit synchronous connections, suggesting the technology is not speculative but unevenly deployed.
This decision could affect how the FCC measures progress on internet infrastructure for years to come. Without long-term speed targets, consumers in underserved areas may see slower investment in high-capacity networks, while providers face less pressure to upgrade. The change may also shape federal funding priorities and state-level broadband planning. Ultimately, the impact will depend on whether market competition alone delivers faster speeds nationwide, or whether the absence of federal goals leaves rural and low-income communities further behind.