FCC Speed Test

What It Means

The FCC Speed Test is the Federal Communications Commission's official broadband measurement tool, available as a free mobile app for iOS and Android since 2013 and as a web-based version. The FCC Speed Test measures download speed, upload speed, latency, and packet loss using multi-thread TCP methodology against a distributed network of test servers operated by the FCC and its measurement partner SamKnows (since acquired by Ookla). The FCC uses aggregated FCC Speed Test data, combined with dedicated in-home measurement hardware deployed to several thousand volunteer households, to produce the annual Measuring Broadband America report (published since 2011). This report grades major ISPs on how closely delivered speeds match advertised speeds, with most large cable and fiber ISPs consistently delivering 95%+ of advertised speeds during off-peak hours and 85 to 95% during peak. The FCC also uses consumer-volunteered speed test data as an input to the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) challenge process, where consumers can dispute availability or speed claims in the authoritative BDC database that determines BEAD $42.45 billion funding eligibility. Participation is voluntary and users can control what data is submitted. The FCC Speed Test is less commonly used than Ookla Speedtest in casual consumer speed checks, but it plays a critical role in regulatory accountability and broadband policy. Results from the FCC Speed Test carry more policy weight than commercial speed test results because the methodology is transparent and the data is used in rulemaking. The Broadband Grade references FCC Measuring Broadband America data as an independent check on ISP-reported availability.

Frequently Asked Questions