Millions Of Americans Still Experience Slow Internet, According To FCC

Despite the wealth and affluence of the United States as a whole, millions of Americans are still stuck with slow internet speeds, according to a report published by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The government body looked at 102.2 million residences and businesses in its study, and found nearly half of Americans are currently saddled with what the FCC determines as slow internet connection.

The FCC defines broadband as having download speeds of download speeds of at least 25Mbps (megabits per second). According to its findings, 47.5 million connections in the U.S. fall below the threshold, including 22.4 million people getting speeds of under 10Mbps and 5.8 million getting just 3Mbps.

However, that does mean 54.7 million people do have access to higher speed connections, including 15.4 million who have connections that achieve speeds of 100Mpbs or better—though those figures are the advertised speed and not necessarily the actual speed provided.

Upload speeds also failed to meet standards in many cases, falling short of the FCC broadband standard of 3Mbps. 33.2 million connections clocked in at under 3Mbps, including 16 million offering just 1Mbps or slower.

The report isn't entirely indicative of access, though it does play a part. The FCC looked at the services that consumers purchased, rather than what the fastest connection available was in a given area.

However, in many areas, consumers are stuck with limited choices when it comes to internet service providers. An earlier study by the FCC found only 24 percent of developed census blocks had access to at least two ISPs offering connections that meet the broadband standard. 29 percent of blocks had access to no broadband connection options.

And in the cases where a high speed connection is commercially available, it often falls short of what is promised to consumers. According to an additional FCC report released last week, major internet providers AT&T, Frontier, and Viasat all fell well short of providing their customers with the speed advertised.

AT&T also came under fire earlier this year for denying discounts to low-income subscribers that were mandated by the FCC as part of the company's agreement when it purchased DirectTV. The company finally did extend the discounts to eligible subscribers after pressure, comporting to the rules set forth by the FCC to extend internet connectivity to those who historically been without it.