News - September 23, 2021

INCOMPAS/BroadLand: Treasury Department Speeds Up Investment in Future Proof Networks

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 23, 2021) – The United States Treasury Department has released updated guidelines for broadband infrastructure projects that dramatically push speed and competition goals forward. In its new Capital Projects Fund Guidance for broadband, the Treasury Department is now calling for investment in symmetrical speed networks that surpass 100 Mbps and scale for the future, also defining “unserved” areas of our nation as having less than 100/20 Mbps rather than current sluggishly slow 25/3 Mbps standard.

In response, Mignon Clyburn and Chip Pickering, co-chairs for the BroadLand USA campaign released the following statements:

“By speeding up broadband speed goals, the Treasury Department is helping American consumers and small businesses avoid crashes that slow down their ability to work and learn. We commend the Treasury Department for taking a smart look at the broadband speed needs of our small businesses and putting forward guidelines for the Capital Projects Fund that increase speeds and call for building scalable, symmetrical networks that reflect marketplace demand and global competition.” 
--Mignon Clyburn, co-chair BroadLand USA

“Millions of Americans are currently unserved by sluggishly slow broadband that crashes their Zoom and buffers their homework. But the Treasury Department’s decision to reject the current ridiculously slow 25/3 Mbps standard in favor of a faster 100/20 Mbps speed floor should give hope to consumers and notice to other government agencies that it’s time to speed up.”

“By prioritizing networks of the future fed by fiber and both middle mile and last mile connections, the Treasury Department’s new goals will help move our broadband network infrastructure from the monopoly era into a new age of competition that will bring more investment, innovation and jobs for all Americans.” 
-- Chip Pickering, CEO of INCOMPAS and co-chair BroadLand USA