While many parts of the world consider high-speed internet access a human right at this point, with all of the connective benefits it has, that's not necessarily the case here in the U.S.. The Commissioner of the FCC doesn't see it as a necessity, or even something that many people should strive for. It's a "novelty," as far as he's concerned.
"The outcry for things like ultra high-speed service in certain areas means longer waits for those who have no access or still rely on dial-up service, as providers rush to serve the denser and more profitable areas that seek upgrades to this level," new FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly said (via PCG). "Today, ultra-fast residential service is a novelty and good for marketing, but the tiny percentage of people using it cannot drive our policy decisions."
O'Rielly has shown a disinterest in expanding access to high-speed internet before. When given the chance to raise the base-level speed offerings across the country to 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload, he voted against it. He said that since 4K content wouldn't become mainstream for a while yet, it wasn't a priority.
That discounts the chicken and egg scenario faced by that new format, as without high-speed internet nobody would be able to adopt 4K viewing.
Moving forward, he wants the industry to regulate itself and encourage competition, rather than see the government weigh in on offerings. This, despite the fact that many markets are faced with terrible broadband offerings from only one company, with no way to fight for an alternative or better service.
What kind of internet offerings do you have in your local area?
