July 29, 2022

On July 15, 2022, Federal Communication Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed increasing the national standard for minimum broadband speeds, noting that the current standard “masks the extent to which low-income neighborhoods and rural communities are being left behind and left offline.”

The digital divide in America is heavily interwoven with issues of race, education, and economic status. Zip codes with predominantly minority groups have an average broadband speed that is materially slower than speeds in primarily white zip codes.[1] Increasing the minimum broadband speed standard can help close this gap so all Americans have access to a reliable broadband network that can enable them to fully participate in society.

We applaud Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s proposal to increase the national standard for minimum broadband speed and also support her recommendation that the Commission “consider affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access as part of its determination as to whether broadband is being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion.” Furthermore, we urge the Commission to implement transparent processes for setting broadband standards, including the periodic reconsideration of minimum speeds, to meet ever-changing societal needs.

Citations

[1] Infrastructure Bill Update, Digital Planet, February 2022.