FCC Votes to Change Definition of Broadband to a Minimum of 25Mbps

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has just voted to redefine broadband as 25Mbps and higher. Before today’s vote, speeds as slow as 4Mbps could be advertised as broadband.

TNW:

The change in definition may not seem like a big deal but it will have major implications. ISPs will have to increase the speed to homes if they want to tell customers they are selling broadband. When people shop for an ISP, the word “broadband” goes a long way.

In the face of this change, ISPs will need to address the über-slow “broadband” speeds they offer to outlying areas, and in markets where residents are lucky enough to have more than one Internet provider, the change in definition should add some healthy competition between providers to offer faster speeds.

Chris Hauk

Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.