That used to be the case, but it isn’t any more. Check out the new broadband map: <https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home>; it goes by exact addresses rather than census districts or whatever it used to be.

The definition was changed to 100×20 Mbps last year: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-401205A1.pdf. 10 years before that it was set to 25×3Mbps.

Please re-read what i said. i said USDA, not FCC. As i tried to start a WISP and could not get any federal funding for it because of the gerrymandering. this was within the last 10 years.

It turns out the USDA changed it. February. of 2024. not 2015 (or whatever). So my information was good until about 18 months ago.

it is now 25/3 (what you are writing as 25*3). https://www.usda.gov/sustainability/infrastructure/broadband... under "mapping", the first question.

I know it often seems like i have no idea what i am talking about, but i very specifically said USDA.

note: they also changed it so cellular no longer counts, amazing:

> Sufficient access to broadband, as defined in the NOFO published on February 21, 2024, is 25 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 3 Mbps upstream (25/3). Mobile/cellular and satellite services will not be considered in making the determination of sufficient access to broadband. Additionally, areas with current broadband service from unlicensed wireless facilities, or have an enforceable commitment associated with unlicensed wireless facilities, are eligible for funding under this notice.

here's the old section (from 2018, you're not paying me to prove exactly the numbers i said, which are older by a year or two):

  § 1738.53 Eligible service area.

  (a) A service area may be eligible for assistance as follows:

  (1) For loan and loan/grant combinations, the proposed funded service area is completely contained within a rural area. For loan guarantee applications, the proposed funded service area must be contained within an area with a population of 50,000 or less, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13);

  (2) For loan/grant combinations, at least 90 percent of the households in the proposed service area must not have access to broadband service. For loans and loan guarantees, at least 50 percent of the households in the proposed service area must not have access to broadband service;

  (3) No part of the proposed funded service area has three or more *incumbent service providers*; and

  (4) No part of the proposed funded service area overlaps with the service area of current RUS borrowers or grantees with outstanding obligations. Notwithstanding, after October 1, 2020, the service areas of grantees that are providing service that is *less than 10 Mbps downstream or less than 1 Mbps upstream* will be considered unserved unless, at the time of the proposed application, the grantee has begun to construct broadband facilities that will meet the minimum acceptable level of service established in § 1738.55.

  § 1738.58; (c) Applicants will be asked to remove areas determined to be ineligible from their proposed funded service area. The application will then be evaluated based on what remains if the resultant service territory is de minimis in change. Otherwise, the Applicant will be requested to provide additional information to the Agency relating to the ineligible areas, such as updated pro forma financials. If the Applicant fails to respond, the application may be returned.

please note the starred parts, as well as 1738.58 (c) which explicitly says that it's gunna be gerrymandered.

Ok, apparently the USDA also provides their own separate grants for broadband deployment. How are their weird rules relevant to this discussion of the FCC’s grants program?