FCC abolishes gigabit speed goal, suggesting it is unfair to slower technologies
FCC decides 1Gbps is too fast, standard must be "technologically neutral."
The Federal Communications Commission has scrapped the gigabit speed goal set during the Biden administration, arguing that it is unfair to slower broadband technologies. Despite fiber networks consistently providing gigabit speeds, the FCC asserts the goal lacks technological neutrality. In 2024, the agency raised its broadband benchmark to 100Mbps downstream and 20Mbps upstream, establishing a new standard for determining reasonable and timely deployment.
The FCC also introduced a long-term goal of 1Gbps download speeds and 500Mbps upload speeds, intending to use it as a guidepost for evaluating deployment efforts. Republican Brendan Carr, the current FCC chairman, opposed the long-term goal and pushed for its elimination last year, which was approved on August 14 in the FCC's latest broadband deployment report.
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