‘Fast’ broadband not what it used to be
The House Consumer Affairs Committee’s informational meeting Aug. 17 covering broadband deployment in the region merits a few follow-up, background points on the subject.
Much of the rural broadband in Pennsylvania is provided by the same carriers that have been providing basic telephone service to homes and businesses for decades, the rural carriers, or RLECs. The RLECs are the carriers of last resort, which means unlike other phone carriers, they can’t walk away from customers because the service is too expensive or inconvenient to provide.
That same level of commitment now includes broadband service. By all measures, the RLECs have been far ahead of the curve in providing rural residents and businesses with high-speed internet.
The RLECs operate under the directives of a law (Act 183 of 2004), which required the smaller carries to deploy broadband throughout their coverage areas by Dec. 31, 2008, and larger ones by Dec. 31, 2013.
With that backdrop, there are a few things to keep in mind when gauging broadband deployment and internet speed. Not all subscribe to the service to begin with, which is, of course, their choice.
Another key point is Act 183 set internet speeds of 1.544 Mbps downstream and 128Kbps upstream. These speeds give many households and businesses all the internet and video services they want, when they want it. Where it isn’t enough for some homes and businesses, the RLECs work with them to deliver the speeds they need.
Another point concerns the speeds themselves. What constitutes “fast” broadband changed drastically over the years. The Federal Communications Commission, which conducts an annual Broadband Progress Report, recently changed the definition of broadband from 4Mbps down and 1Mbps up to 25 Mbps down and 3Mbps up. Some criticized the change because technically it triples the number of U.S. households that lack broadband access. Yet, as noted earlier, the speeds set out under Act 183 give nearly all households and businesses more than adequate service.
One last, related point: Legislation, HB 1417, awaiting action in the Consumer Affairs Committee will help RLECs maintain their commitment to affordable, reliable broadband and basic phone service. Without this important bill, rates for both could increase dramatically for rural homes and businesses.
Steven J. Samara
President, Pennsylvania Telephone Association