1. FCC Speed Benchmark
Standard
Legacy 2015
25 / 3
DSL & 4G LTE qualify
BEAD Baseline
100 / 20
5G FWA & Cable qualify
Gigabit Goal
1000 / 1000
Fiber Only (FTTH)
Max Allowable Latency
100 ms
Tighter latency (<50ms) disbars standard geostationary & some LEO constellations.
Policy & Funding Rules
Strict Technology Neutrality
Any tech meeting speed/latency is eligible for federal universal service funds
Fiber-Preference Scoring Weight
Awards 25% subsidy bonus for scalable all-fiber optical plant
Extremely High-Cost Threshold (EHCT)
Permits alternate technologies when fiber capex exceeds cap/location
Total Federal Program Budget
$42.5 B
e.g., NTIA BEAD $42.45B + USF high-cost support mechanisms.
Regional Target Weights
Rural / Remote Priority Factor
Focus funds on unserved last-mile density (<10 passings/sq mi)
1.4x
National Geographic Topology Simulation
Fiber (FTTH)
5G Fixed Wireless
DOCSIS 4.0 Cable
LEO Satellite
Unserved / DSL
Zone Selected: Rural Cluster #3
Deployable Tech: FTTH + 5G FWA
Cost/Passing: $4,250
2. Technology Qualification Matrix
Shows whether each technology meets the active 100/20 Mbps benchmark under current rule constraints.
| Technology | Peak Down/Up | Latency | Status |
|---|
Zone Passing Breakdown
Urban (Dense Core)
$950/passing
Suburban & Exurban
$1,850/passing
Rural Farmland / Low-Density
$5,400/passing
Remote & Tribal Islands
$14,200/passing