People want applications to run fast: A webpage should load quickly, and videos should run without buffering. Speed affects people’s experiences, including how they can use digital applications such as websites, streaming video services, videoconferencing systems, or online education platforms. It’s measured in terms of both download (how quickly things move from the internet to your device, such as how long it takes to load a YouTube video) and upload (the speed at which content is transferred from your device to the internet, such as how well a video call transmits from your home office). Q: Why does connection speed matter?Ī: The speed impacts how quickly information is transferred. Policymakers periodically revise definitions of what counts as broadband service-which as recently as 2010 was defined as speeds of 4 Mbps/1Mbps-to reflect improvements in technology and changes in customer demand. The current definition set by the FCC is speeds of 25 megabits per second for downloads and 3 megabits per second for uploads. Q: First and foremost: What is broadband?Ī: Broadband is reliable high-speed internet. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. He recently answered questions about internet speeds. Earlier in his career, he served as research director for the Federal Communications Commission team that developed the National Broadband Plan, which was released in 2010. John Horrigan is a senior fellow at the Technology Policy Institute, a think tank focused on exploring major issues related to information technology and communications policy, who has studied home broadband adoption.
How fast does an internet connection need to be? What factors go into answering that question? In a time that demands social distancing, broadband connections allow people to work from home, connect with classrooms, access health care services, apply for public assistance, and perform ordinary household activities such as ordering groceries or prescriptions.Īs more Americans become increasingly reliant on broadband services, speed becomes a more important factor. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased attention on the crucial role that high-speed internet access plays in American life. As COVID-19 makes fast internet connections more critical, policy expert discusses the possibilities and key considerations
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