FCC Phases in Rate Floor Increase and Proposes Increased Broadband Speed Requirements

The Federal Communications Commission announced that it would delay implementing an increase in the rate floor for high cost area funding until January 2015.

At that point the FCC will increase the rate floor incrementally instead of increasing the rate floor from $14 to $20.46 for phone service. The FCC will also conduct a new urban rate survey, and it will not apply the rate floor increase for lines with customers using the Lifeline program.

In addition to the rate floor announcement, the FCC proposed an increase in the minimum broadband speed requirements for the recipients of high cost support.

"Broadband is an evolving standard and connections should become more robust to access the growing number of services that depend on ubiquitous and reliable connectivity," said John Bergmayer, Senior Staff Attorney at Public Knowledge. "It's good to see the FCC revisit the standards an Internet connection must meet to qualify as broadband, but there is still work to be done. Broadband connections should offer fast and reliable upload as well as download capability. The FCC must continue to update its standards as the needs of the public continue to evolve."