FCC Declares Gigabit Internet Speeds Out of Reach for Consumers

Another day brings more disappointing news about our compromised Federal Communications Commission. Chairman Brendan Carr has acted on his 2025 warning to scrap the long-term broadband speed targets set during the previous administration, which aimed to achieve gigabit download and half-gigabit upload speeds. How dare we aspire to widespread high-speed internet across the nation!

It’s astonishing that 13 years after Comcast claimed Americans didn’t need gigabit internet, we find ourselves revisiting this debate. The private sector has made strides, albeit inconsistently, in delivering ultra-fast speeds in select areas. For instance, the apartment I’m about to move into boasts 5 gigabit synchronous internet, which will require a new PCIe network card to support. Those speeds are incredible, so why aren’t we aiming for such heights nationwide?

It took the FCC years to finally acknowledge that the outdated 25Mbps definition of “broadband” was inadequate. Remember Ajit Pai, the guy with the giant Reese’s mug who dismantled net neutrality? He once insisted that we didn’t need more than that. (The standard was raised from 25/3 to 100/20 in 2024.) His successor, Brendan Carr—who is even worse in nearly every aspect—is echoing the same sentiments but with a more cynical twist. Here’s part of what the FCC states regarding its decision to abandon the gigabit speed goal:

> At present, it is impossible to predict long-term technological developments and the evolution of consumer preferences.

This is one of the least difficult predictions to make. Who would choose slower speeds if faster options were available? This reflects peak regulatory arrogance from an administration that often misleads the public.

But don’t worry. The decision to drop the gigabit goal is packaged within a broader broadband report that claims everything is just fine! The FCC asserts that speeds are increasing, competition is rising, and prices are falling. Unfortunately, as noted by some sources, many of these insights come from industry lobby groups, with no adverse research from advocacy organizations.

Why is the FCC taking this stance? It’s hard to say for sure, but a reasonable guess is that the FCC has become more aligned with industry interests that prefer their projects (like satellite internet) to avoid unfavorable comparisons to higher standards. Just how much has the FCC been influenced? Interestingly, reports indicate that Brendan Carr has been particularly close to the White House and right-wing media. It’s a safe bet that the decision to abandon the broadband goal has little to do with the public’s best interests.