CAF Speed Target Could Create New Winners and Losers

If the Federal Communications Commission gets its way, high speed Internet access might be defined as a minimum of between 10 Mbps to 25 Mbps.

The definition matters for any number of reasons, not least of all that universal access funding, which now has shifted from voice services to Internet access services as part of the Connect America Fund, will use the FCC’s definition. Recipients of CAF funding would have to build access networks operating at the higher minimum speeds. The biggest impact arguably would be felt in rural areas, since most urban and suburban networks already offer standard speeds of 10 Mbps or faster.