The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released its most recent report on access in the United States to fixed and mobile Internet connections, including information on the gap between current service levels and the benchmark Internet connection speeds recommended under the Commission’s National Broadband Plan.
According to the Commission’s report, entitled “Internet Access Services: Status as of June 30, 2011,” 73% of fixed Internet connections to households meet or exceed the speed tier that most closely approximates the target set in the National Broadband Plan of 3 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 768 kilobits per second (kbps) upstream. This penetration rate for fixed high-speed service compares with just 49% at the end of 2009, and 53% at the end of 2010.
At the same time, high-speed Internet access for subscribers of mobile wireless service continues to grow. As of June, 2011, 14% of mobile subscribers had access to high-speed service, more than triple the 4% penetration rate achieved by the end of 2009.
Without accounting for speed, Internet connections overall are growing. By the end of June 2011, there were 206 million Internet connections offering access at speeds of at least 200 kpbs, a 31% year-over-year increase. Overall growth continues to be driven by dramatic increases in mobile connections, which increased by 59% in just one year. With nearly 120 million subscribers, the number of mobile Internet connections at the end of June 2011 was 50% greater than the number of fixed Internet connections.
Read the complete text of the Commission’s report on Internet access, including information on the gap between current service levels and the benchmark Internet connection speeds recommended under the Commission’s National Broadband Plan.
