The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has scrapped its long-term goal of universal 1Gbps download and 500Mbps upload broadband speeds, arguing that the target unfairly favoured fibre networks over slower technologies such as satellite and fixed wireless. The move, finalised on 14 August in the FCC's latest Section 706 broadband deployment report, reverses a benchmark set under the Biden administration and reflects Republican chairman Brendan Carr's long-standing opposition to the goal, which he had proposed abolishing last year.

The FCC maintained its current headline standard of 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up, introduced in 2024, but dropped the additional 1,000/500Mbps aspiration entirely, saying it was not required by law and could breach its duty to remain "technologically neutral" between different types of broadband. The regulator concluded that broadband deployment across the US is now adequate. Democratic commissioner Anna Gomez criticised the decision, arguing it lowers standards rather than genuinely applying neutral criteria, and noted that federally funded projects, including most of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, are still required to deliver gigabit speeds regardless of the change.