Lack of Symmetrical Networks May be Choking Internet Performance

Local broadband speeds may be impaired by upload speed. "That upstream is really where we’re in trouble,” said Gary Bolton, the vice president of global marketing at ADTRAN, referring to unprecedented demand for needing to upload content to the internet, mainly the webcam and audio data you need to broadcast to participate in a Zoom meeting. Bolton predicted that this crunch on upstream will lead to an explosion for demand for broadband buildout. “It started with Brexit,” Bolton said about seeing an increase in global momentum for buildout, adding that coronavirus has taken it to new heights. “Life will not be the same as it was before we entered.” When asked whether broadband should be considered “the fourth utility,” Bolton replied, “I think it's past a debate anymore.”

Benton Institute for Broadband and Society Senior Fellow Jon Sallet criticized the Federal Communications Commission for its lack of updates during the crisis. “The FCC is the institution that is designed” to let the public know about how networks are performing, Sallet said. “The FCC should be issuing a weekly broadband status report,” he said. Sallet referenced how FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said that she “would like to see detailed daily reporting from the broadband service providers, as they offer during natural disasters and other emergencies.” The pandemic is clearly an emergency, Sallet argued, and it falls on the FCC to be providing those daily updates.