European Wi-Fi usage is growing more than twice as fast as the US. At current growth rates, Europe is poised to pass North America in wireless Internet usage (see Figure 1). Due to popular demand, the FCC has redefined the speed of broadband. Among active Internet users in the US, 88.4% now use broadband.
The Bandwidth Report Category: FCC
Broadband Penetration Grows to 57% in US Homes – Survey: 12% ‘borrow’ free Wi-Fi – US Broadband Uptake Slows to 88.8% among Active Internet Users – April 2008 Bandwidth Report
Broadband penetration in US households grew to 57% in March. Some 12 percent of consumers borrow free wireless connections, according to a new survey. Among active Internet users, broadband penetration grew by only 0.43 percentage points over the past month to 88.82%.
New Jersey Leads Nation in Broadband Penetration – US Workplace Broadband Breaks 90% – August 2006 Bandwidth Report
New Jersey edged out Hawaii to lead all states in broadband penetration with 48.6% of NJ households subscribing to a high speed connection. Mississippi trails all states with 14.4% of households on broadband at the beginning of 2006. Meanwhile, workplace broadband penetration broke 90% for the first time in July 2006. US broadband penetration among active Internet users grew 0.76 percentage points to 73.86% in July 2006.
Bush Broadband Goal Gored – US Broadband Penetration Breaks 70% Among Active Internet Users – Broadband Study Highlights Two-Speed Europe – May 2006 Bandwidth Report
President Bush’s goal of universal broadband access for all Americans by 2007 appears to be overly optimistic, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The GAO study found that only 28% of Americans had broadband in 2005.
FCC Ignores Digital Divide While US Broadband Drops Worldwide – US Broadband Penetration Nears 60% in July – August 2005 Bandwidth Report
The Free Press, Consumers Union, and the Consumer Federation of America respond to the July FCC report with a report titled “Broadband Reality Check” claiming that the US government is stifling broadband competition in favor of the DSL/Cable duopoly. Meanwhile, the US has dropped from 13th to 16th worldwide in broadband penetration. In July, US broadband penetration jumped 1.35 percentage points to 59.92% among active Internet users. By August, US broadband penetration should break 60%.
FCC Fudging Broadband Figures? – US Broadband Penetration Jumps to 58.6% in June – July 2005 Bandwidth Report
The FCC’s recent broadband penetration report has critics wondering about its accuracy. Is the FCC fudging US broadband figures to avoid taking “immediate action” or artificially inflate penetration rates to help the President meet his stated goal of “universal, affordable access to broadband by 2007”? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, in June, US broadband jumped 1.36 percentage points to 58.57% among active Internet users.
US Broadband Penetration Drops to 51.3% Among Active Internet Users – FCC Approves Broadband Over Power Line Rules – October 2004 Bandwidth Report
For the first time, U.S. broadband penetration dropped to 51.3% among active Internet users in September. US broadband penetration decreased by 0.09 percentage points in September, with 51.33% of active Internet users on high-speed connections at home. 48.67% of US home users dial into the Internet with “narrowband” connections of 56Kbps or less. Meanwhile the FCC Thursday approved rules allowing broadband over power lines and eased restrictions on local phone companies’ high-speed networks.
US Broadband Penetration Grows to 48.6% – Broadband Households at 38% – June 2004 Bandwidth Report
US broadband penetration grew by 0.74 percentage points in May, with 48.61% of active Internet users enjoying a high-speed connection at home. 51.39% of US home users dial into the Internet with “narrowband” connections of 56Kbps or less. Meanwhile, the percentage of wired US households with broadband grew to 38% in May, and will exceed 50% by summer 2005.