united-states internet fcc
Is &quot;hi-speed internet&quot; the same as &quot;broadband&quot;?
<p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/29/7932653/fcc-changed-definition-broadband-25mbps" rel="nofollow">FCC.gov regulates broadband in the United States, and as of early 2015, they define it as 25 Mbps download with 3 Mbps upload (up from 4 and 1, respectively, that it used to be prior to 2015).</a></p>

<p>But a lot of people generally refer to non-dial-up internet as "hi-speed internet", you don't really see "broadband" in any promotional materials.</p>

<p>Is "hi-speed internet", legally, the same as "broadband"?  Or is it a loophole word that's non-regulated and means nothing?</p>

<p>According to the FCC Encyclopedia, <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/types-broadband-connections" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Types of Broadband Connections</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The term broadband commonly refers to high-speed Internet access that is always on and faster than the traditional dial-up access. Broadband includes several high-speed transmission technologies such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)</li>
<li>Cable Modem</li>
<li>Fiber</li>
<li>Wireless</li>
<li>Satellite</li>
<li>Broadband over Powerlines (BPL)</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>So yes, it is. High-speed is essentially synonymous to broadband under this definition. Companies likely use high-speed in advertising more often because most non-tech people out there buying Internet services won't know what broadband means. But whatever high-speed Internet technology the company is using, it all falls under the broadband regulations.</p>
