fastcompany.com/fcc-signals-intent-on-net-neutrality-decision-redefines-broadband

After months of hemming and hawing, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler indicated yesterday that he would advocate a net neutrality policy compatible with President Obama’s vision for treating the Internet as a public utility and prohibit Internet service provider practices such as blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization.

In addition, Wheeler proposed changing the definition of broadband in order to promote faster internet speeds. Under the new standards, broadband, or “advanced telecommunications capability,” in FCC parlance, would be defined as 25Mbps downstream and 3Mbps upstream—an improvement from its current definition of 4Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream.

The recommendation stems from the FCC concern that internet service providers are failing to serve rural communities, which, in an increasingly digital economy, would effectively leave them cut off from trade and education.

According to the FCC, 55 million Americans lack access to broadband service that would meet the proposed redefinition. Of those, 53 million live in rural areas.