FACT SHEET ON DRAFT
2018 BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT REPORT
Recognizing the importance of high-speed broadband Internet access, Congress in 1996 tasked the 
Federal Communications Commission with “encourag[ing] the deployment on a reasonable and timely 
basis of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans.”  To ensure the Commission took this 
obligation seriously, Congress required the Commission to report on its progress each year.
Chairman Pai has circulated a draft 2018 Broadband Deployment Report to his colleagues and below are 
the key findings and additional information.
Topline Takeaways:
? The 25/3 speed benchmark is maintained.  The draft report finds that the current speed 
benchmark of 25 Mbps/3 Mbps remains an appropriate measure by which to assess whether a 
fixed service provides advanced telecommunications capability.  
? Mobile services are not full substitutes for fixed services—there are salient differences 
between the two technologies.  Both fixed and mobile services can enable access to information, 
entertainment, and employment options, but there are salient differences between the two.  
Beyond the most obvious distinction that mobile services permit user mobility, there are clear 
variations in consumer preferences and demands for fixed and mobile services.
? Because fixed services and mobile services are not full substitutes, it is important to evaluate 
progress in deploying fixed broadband service as well as progress in deploying mobile 
broadband service.  Any analysis that only looked at the progress in deploying fixed broadband 
service or only looked at the progress in deploying mobile broadband service would be 
incomplete.  Therefore, the draft report takes a holistic view of the market and examines whether 
we are both making progress in deploying fixed broadband service and making progress in 
deploying mobile broadband service.
? Analyzing broadband deployment progress is most consistent with the language of section 
706.  The draft report finds that analyzing progress to determine whether deployment is occurring 
in a reasonable and timely fashion is the approach most consistent with the language of section 
706, as this enables the Commission to determine whether advanced telecommunications 
capability “is being deployed” as the law requires.
? Since the last report, the FCC has taken many steps to encourage broadband deployment.  
Most notably, the Commission has taken concrete actions to reduce regulatory barriers to the 
deployment of wireline and wireless infrastructure, constituted a Broadband Deployment 
Advisory Committee to assist in these efforts, reformed the legacy high-cost universal service 
program to ensure accountability and introduce opportunities for new entrants through reverse 
auctions, modernized our rules for business data services to facilitate facilities-based competition, 
authorized new uses of wireless spectrum both terrestrially and in space, and voted to eliminate 
the heavy-handed regulations contained in the Title II Order, returning to the successful light-
touch regulatory framework for broadband Internet access.
? Due to these efforts, the draft report concludes that the FCC is now meeting its statutory 
mandate to encourage the deployment of broadband on a reasonable and timely basis.  That 
2positive finding, however, does not undermine our continued commitment to closing the digital 
divide.  Too many Americans remain unable to access high-speed broadband, and we have much 
work to do if we are going to extend digital opportunity to them.  
? Broadband deployment remains the FCC’s top priority.  Our effort to bridge the digital divide 
and promote the further deployment of advanced telecommunications capability will remain the 
Commission’s top priority as we continue our work to deliver the benefits of broadband to all 
Americans.