As part of its 2015 Broadband Progress Report adopted yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission has voted to change the definition of broadband by raising the minimum download speeds needed to 25 Mbps (from 4 Mbps), and the minimum upload speed to 3 Mbps (from 1 Mbps), which effectively triples the number of U.S. households without broadband access.

Currently, 6.3% of U.S. households don't have access to broadband under the previous 4 Mbps/1 Mbps threshold.  Using this updated service benchmark, the Progress Report found that 17% of U.S households don't have access to broadband under the new 25 Mbps download threshold. In New York State, approximately 500,000 households or 1 million people cannot access broadband at minimum state defined threshold of 6 Mbps download and 1.5 Mbps upload.  When analyzing the number of  housing units that lack access broadband at speeds of 25 Mbps download, the number is far greater, with 2.5 million unserved households.   

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel stated that she wants to increase the minimum broadband standards far past the new 25 Mbps download threshold, up to 100Mbps. "We invented the Internet. We can do audacious things if we set big goals, and I think our new threshold, frankly, should be 100 Mbps. I think anything short of that shortchanges our children, our future, and our new digital economy," Commissioner Rosenworcel said.

In his State of Opportunity Agenda, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo committed $500 million to expand broadband services to all New Yorkers by the end of 2018 though the New NY Broadband Program.  This unprecedented commitment is the largest state broadband investment in the nation and builds on the $70 million already invested on broadband expansion under Governor Cuomo's direction.  Recognizing that New York State defined broadband speeds of 6 Mbps/1.5 Mbps are already out of date, under the new program, Governor Cuomo is calling for download speeds of 100 Mbps to most and 25 Mbps to New York's most remote communities.

"Access to high-speed internet is critical to ensuring that all New Yorkers can reach their full potential in today's technology-driven world," Governor Cuomo said. "We're launching the largest state broadband investment in the nation in order to make that goal a reality. This is a truly bold undertaking that will improve the lives of New Yorkers in every corner of the State, and I am proud to make it a priority of our administration's second term agenda."

For more information on Governor Cuomo's 2015 Opportunity Agenda and the New NY Broadband Program visit https://www.ny.gov/programs/2015-opportunity-agenda.

To view FCC's press release announcing the newly defined speed threshold visit http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-finds-us-broadband-deployment-not-keeping-pace.