The United States is leading in LTE deployment and DOCSIS 3.0 has now been rolled out extensively across the country, but approximately 19 million Americans — 6 percent of the population — still lack access to fixed broadband service at threshold speeds (4 Mbps/1 Mbps), according to the FCC’s Eighth Broadband Progress Report.
Some highlights of the 181-page report:
- In rural areas, nearly one-fourth of the population — 14.5 million people — lack access to this service.
- In tribal areas, nearly one-third of the population lacks access.
- Even in areas where broadband is available, approximately 100 million Americans still do not subscribe.
- Broadband satellite is not included in this report but the FCC notes that ViaSat (formerly WildBlue) and HughesNet’s newly launched ECHOSTAR XVII are entering the market with services above the threshold rate.
- Service Providers are boosting their speeds. Verizon is offering up to 300 Mbps/65 Mbps for FiOS,23 while CenturyLink is offering up to 40 Mbps/5 Mbps.
