The US Federal Communications Commission has scrapped long-term broadband speed targets set under the Biden administration, which had aimed to eventually bring gigabit download and half-gigabit upload speeds nationwide. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr followed through on a threat made in 2025 to abandon the goal, arguing it is "impossible to predict long-term technological developments and the evolution of consumer preferences." Critics see the move as a retreat from ambition that echoes past FCC reluctance to raise speed standards, and as a sign of the regulator's growing alignment with industry interests over consumer needs.

The decision forms part of a wider broadband report in which the FCC claims speeds are rising, competition is improving and prices are falling, though critics note some of this analysis draws on industry lobby groups rather than independent research. The FCC previously took years to raise its "broadband" definition from 25Mbps to 100/20Mbps in 2024, having been criticised for years under former chairman Ajit Pai for setting the bar too low. Observers suggest the rollback may benefit sectors such as satellite internet, which struggle to match higher speed benchmarks, and note that Carr has reportedly maintained close ties with the White House and right-wing media.