Free Press: FCC Should Set Bar High for Broadband Definition

Free Press filed comments Monday with the Federal Communications Commission about how the term "broadband" should be defined in future policymaking at the agency.

Free Press offered the following recommendations:

1) The FCC should aim for a world-class, "future-proof" network. The FCC should establish an evolving "target" goal to position America as a global leader in online communications. Speeds as high as 1 gigabit per-second are being deployed in other countries, and the agency must take into account America's long-term success and global competitiveness.

2) Connections should enable high-quality two-way video communications. At a minimum, "broadband" should be defined at speeds of 5 megabits per-second symmetrical, to allow one user to access and share high-quality video content. The agency should also take into consideration that multi-user and multi-tasking homes require much higher speeds.

3) The definition must be rooted in actual delivered speeds. The agency should rely on real speeds -- not advertised speeds -- to determine what the user can really do with the connection.

4) The agency must consider all factors that impact users' experience. Artificial limits imposed by providers cripple the utility of the connection and should not be tolerated. Connections must be offered in a manner consistent with the FCC's open Internet principles and must include access to the full Internet.

5) Broadband should be viewed as critical infrastructure. Smart grids, distance learning and telehealth have transformed broadband from a consumer service to an essential infrastructure, and the FCC should focus on developing infrastructure for the long haul.

6) Mobile broadband should not be defined separately from fixed services. Whether mobile or fixed, the broadband connection should still be able to deliver the same applications and services for users.
Free Press filing
www.freepress.net/files/FreePress_Broadband_Definition_Comments.pdf