FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel Responds to Members of Congress Regarding Small Business Speed Needs

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent letters to 12 members of Congress on December 13, 2021, regarding the July 2021 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on small business broadband speed needs. "I do not believe the FCC’s current speed benchmark for broadband, 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second download, is adequate," said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. "As GAO points out, the FCC’s speed benchmark has remained at 25/3 Mbps since 2015, despite major changes in demand for broadband in the intervening years. We need to set audacious goals if we want to do big things. The recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act generally requires new projects to meet a 100/20 Mbps threshold for funding and we need to take that into account as we consider the FCC’s speed benchmark. Moreover, as GAO recommends, the FCC intends to seek comment regarding the broadband needs of small businesses when it initiates its next Section 706 inquiry to determine whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion."