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Policy & Regulation

Broadband

High-speed internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up. The FCC defines broadband as a minimum of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload as of 2024.

What It Means

The FCC first defined broadband as 200 Kbps in both directions in 1999, raised it to 4 Mbps/1 Mbps in 2010, then to 25 Mbps/3 Mbps in 2015, and most recently to 100 Mbps/20 Mbps in 2024. Areas below the current threshold are classified as "underserved" and may be eligible for federal broadband funding. The FCC has also set a long-term goal of 1 Gbps download and 500 Mbps upload. These thresholds directly affect where billions in broadband subsidies are allocated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Broadband" mean?

High-speed internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up. The FCC defines broadband as a minimum of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload as of 2024.

Why does Broadband matter for internet quality?

The FCC first defined broadband as 200 Kbps in both directions in 1999, raised it to 4 Mbps/1 Mbps in 2010, then to 25 Mbps/3 Mbps in 2015, and most recently to 100 Mbps/20 Mbps in 2024. Areas below the current threshold are classified as "underserved" and may be eligible for federal broadband fundi...

Related Terms

Digital Divide
The gap between communities with access to fast, reliable, affordable internet and those without. Disproportionately affects rural, low-income, and tribal areas.
BEAD Program
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program — a $42.5 billion federal initiative to expand broadband access to underserved and unserved areas across all 50 states.
FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC)
The FCC's address-level broadband availability database that replaced the older Form 477 system. Collects data from every ISP twice a year covering over 116 million locations.
Net Neutrality
The principle that internet service providers must treat all internet traffic equally, without blocking, throttling, or prioritizing certain websites or services.

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About This Data

Definitions based on FCC standards, industry specifications, and federal broadband policy. Speed benchmarks reflect 2024 FCC standards. See our methodology.