FCC 3-2 Broadband Report Cites 'Progress,' Keeps 25/3 Fixed Standard, Says Mobile Not Substitute

The FCC 3-2 cited broadband "progress" in keeping a 25/3 Mbps fixed benchmark and said mobile isn't a full substitute, in Friday's report under a Telecom Act Section 706 mandate, following through on Chairman Ajit Pai's draft (see 1801180053 and 1802020058). The report, also backed by Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Brendan Carr, concluded the agency is encouraging "reasonable and timely" broadband-like advanced telecom capability deployment. ATC improvement "slowed dramatically in the wake of a 2015 net neutrality order, the report said: fixed broadband was newly deployed to 13.5 million 2015-16, down 55 percent from 2013-14; and mobile LTE broadband went to 5.8 million more people in 2015-16, down 83 percent. But Republicans said the FCC was promoting ATC gains. Fixed 25/3 Mbps reached 95.6 percent of Americans and mobile 5/1 Mbps reached 99.6 percent by year-end 2016, said the report (appendices, here and here, on county breakdowns); and the current FCC reduced "regulatory barriers" to infrastructure deployment, created a Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee to assist efforts, repealed "heavy-handed" Title II (Communications Act) broadband regulations and took other steps. The Democrats said too many Americans lack adequate fixed or mobile broadband for a positive finding. Republicans partially acknowledged the point. "While we are now headed in the right direction, we have much to do," Pai said. "Far too many Americans still lack access." The FCC should "shoot for the moon," said Carr, urging continued streamlining of wireless and wireline deployment rules, freeing up spectrum for consumer use, and creating incentives to spur edge and network innovation. O'Rielly disagreed with FCC refusal to acknowledge wireless broadband as a substitute for wireline service, or set a wireless speed benchmark, but said a "plethora of data" backed a positive finding.