Broadband Policy
FCC rulings, legislation, and policy developments affecting internet access.
The FCC Wants to Redefine Broadband Again — 100/20 Mbps This Time
The FCC is proposing to raise the broadband definition from 25/3 Mbps to 100/20 Mbps. ISPs hate it. Here's why the definition matters more than you think.
$42.5 Billion to Build Broadband: Inside the BEAD Program
The NTIA's BEAD program is the largest broadband infrastructure investment in US history. Here's how $42.45 billion will be distributed, why fiber gets priority, and when construction starts.
The FCC's New Broadband Maps Are Here — And They Show How Bad the Old Ones Were
The FCC's new Broadband Data Collection maps use location-level data instead of census blocks. The result: millions fewer Americans have broadband than we thought.
The Infrastructure Bill's $65 Billion Broadband Promise
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $65 billion for broadband. Here's how the money will be spent, what the BEAD program is, and what it means for underserved communities.
Biden's $1.9 Trillion Rescue Plan Includes Billions for Broadband
The American Rescue Plan Act creates the Emergency Broadband Benefit — a $50/month subsidy for qualifying households — and pumps billions into connectivity for schools and libraries.
The FCC Votes to Kill Net Neutrality — What Happens to Your Internet Now?
Ajit Pai's FCC just voted 3-2 to repeal Title II net neutrality rules. Streaming, gaming, and small businesses face an uncertain future. States are already pushing back.
Congress Just Killed ISP Privacy Rules — Here's What Your Provider Knows About You
Congress used the Congressional Review Act to repeal FCC privacy rules before they took effect. Your ISP can now sell your browsing history to advertisers. Here's what you can do.
Net Neutrality Explained: What the FCC Ruling Means for You
The FCC just reclassified broadband as a utility and enacted the strongest net neutrality rules in U.S. history. Here's what it means for your internet service.
The FCC Just Redefined Broadband: 25Mbps Is the New Minimum
The FCC raised the broadband speed benchmark from 4/1 Mbps to 25/3 Mbps. Millions of Americans who thought they had broadband suddenly don't. ISPs are furious.
The FCC's National Broadband Plan: 100Mbps to 100 Million Homes by 2020
The FCC just released a 376-page plan to bring 100 Mbps broadband to 100 million American homes by 2020. Ambitious? Absolutely. Realistic? That depends on who you ask.
Obama Signs $7.2 Billion Broadband Stimulus — Where Will the Money Go?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $7.2 billion for broadband buildout, the largest federal investment in internet infrastructure ever. Rural America stands to benefit most.
Broadband Adoption in America: Where We Stand in 2008
An analysis of broadband adoption rates across the United States in 2008 — the rural-urban divide, FCC statistics, and what policymakers are saying about universal access.
FCC Orders Comcast to Stop Blocking BitTorrent — A Net Neutrality First
The FCC just voted 3-2 to order Comcast to stop throttling BitTorrent traffic. It's the first time the Commission has enforced net neutrality principles against a major ISP.
Comcast Is Secretly Throttling Your BitTorrent Downloads
An Associated Press investigation confirms what many subscribers suspected: Comcast is actively interfering with BitTorrent traffic by sending forged reset packets. The FCC is paying attention.
AT&T Acquires BellSouth: Is One Company Too Big for Broadband?
AT&T's $67 billion acquisition of BellSouth creates a telecom giant controlling DSL service in 22 states. The FCC attached net neutrality conditions, but will they be enough?
FCC Deregulates VoIP — And Broadband Demand Is About to Surge
The FCC just declared VoIP services like Vonage exempt from state telephone regulation. The ruling clears the runway for internet phone — and you can't use it on dial-up.
FCC Rules Cable Internet Is an 'Information Service' — Why You Should Care
The FCC just classified cable internet as an 'information service' rather than a 'telecommunications service.' This obscure regulatory distinction could shape broadband competition for decades.
The AOL-Time Warner Merger: What It Means for Your Internet
AOL is buying Time Warner for $165 billion in the biggest merger in history. Here's what it means for broadband, cable internet, and your monthly bill.