2016 Broadband Progress Report Chairman’s Draft

Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the Federal Communications Commission to determine whether “advanced telecommunications capability” -- broadband -- is being deployed to all Americans in a “reasonable and timely fashion.” If the answer is negative, the Act requires the FCC to “take immediate action” to speed deployment. The FCC released a summary of Chairman Wheeler’s draft of the 2016 Broadband Progress Report, which he is circulating to his fellow commissioners for their consideration at the January 28 Open Meeting.

The Conclusion: While the nation continues to make progress in broadband deployment, advanced telecommunications capability is not being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion to all Americans.

• Approximately 34 million Americans still lack access to fixed broadband at the FCC’s benchmark speed of 25 Mbps for downloads, 3 Mbps for uploads
• A persistent urban-rural digital divide has left 39 percent of the rural population without access to fixed broadband. By comparison, only 4 percent living in urban areas lack access. 10 percent lack access nationwide
• 41 percent of Tribal Lands residents lack access
• 41 percent of schools have not met the Commission’s short-term goal of 100 Mbps per 1,000 students/staff. These schools educate 47 percent of the nation’s students. Only 9 percent of schools have fiber connections capable of meeting the FCC’s
• long-term goal of 1 Gbps per 1,000 students
• Internationally, the U.S. continues to lag behind a number of other developed nations, ranking 16th out of 34 countries