STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI
Re: Inquiry Concerning Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications Capability to All Americans in 
a Reasonable and Timely Fashion, GN Docket No. 17-199.
In Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress tasked the Commission with 
encouraging the deployment of broadband on a reasonable and timely basis and issuing an annual report 
on our progress.  This report carries out this statutory responsibility.
The report maintains the same benchmark speed for fixed broadband service previously adopted 
by the Commission, which we earlier proposed to retain: 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload.  The report 
also concludes that mobile broadband service is not a full substitute for fixed service.  Instead, it notes 
there are differences between the two technologies, including clear variations in consumer preferences 
and demands.  As a result, the report evaluates progress in deploying fixed broadband service as well as 
progress in deploying mobile broadband service and takes a holistic approach to evaluating the 
deployment of these services.
The report also indicates that the pace of both fixed and mobile broadband deployment declined 
dramatically in the two years following the prior Commission’s Title II Order.  However, the report also 
discusses how, over the course of the past year, the current Commission has taken steps to reduce barriers 
to infrastructure investment and promote competition in the broadband marketplace.  Taken together, 
these policies indicate that the current FCC is now meeting its statutory mandate to encourage the 
deployment of broadband on a reasonable and timely basis.
But while we are now headed in the right direction, we have much to do.  Far too many 
Americans still lack access to high-speed Internet.  That’s why the FCC’s top priority under my 
leadership remains bridging the digital divide and bringing digital opportunity to all Americans.
Many staff members have been hard at work to bring you this report today: from the Wireline 
Competition Bureau: Adam Copeland, Nicole Desbois, Lauren Garry, Trent Harkrader, Alex Johns, Dan 
Kahn, Pam Megna, Kris Monteith, Steve Rosenberg, Arielle Roth, and John Visclosky; from the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau: Monica DeLong, Judith Dempsey, Chas Eberle, Nese Guendelsberger, Kate 
Matraves, Don Stockdale, Patrick Sun, Matt Warner, and Joe Wyer; from the International Bureau: Stacey 
Ashton, Denise Coca, Ena Dekanic, Jerry Duvall, Francis Gutierrez, Gabrielle Kim, Heidi Kroll, Arthur 
Lechtman, Michael Mullinix, Kerry Murray, Jim Schlichting, Walt Strack, Thomas Sullivan, Jacqueline 
(Lindsay) Tello, and Michele Wu-Bailey; from the Office of General Counsel: Billy Layton, Rick Mallen, 
Linda Oliver, William Richardson; and from the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy: Paul Lafontaine 
and Sean Sullivan.