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Congressional Research Service
informing the legislative debate since 1914
June 30, 2023
Fixed Technologies Used to Deliver Broadband Service: A
Primer and Considerations for Congress
Broadband-in general-refers to technologies that are
capable of delivering high-speed internet service. Internet
service providers (ISPs) use various technologies to deploy
broadband infrastructure, and each technology has different
speed and other performance characteristics. ISPs choose a
certain broadband technology for a certain serviceable area
based on various factors-for example, deployment cost
and consumer demand in the area. Many consumers prefer
fiber technology for their broadband service because of its
reliability and high speed (e.g., most U.S. ISPs currently
offer fiber-based residential internet service with up to 1
gigabit per second (Gbps) download speed). There is debate
among Members of Congress on whether only fiber should
be supported in federal efforts to close the digital divide, or
whether other technologies should be included. The digital
divide refers to the gap between those who have access to
broadband services and those who do not.
This In Focus describes major fixed technologies capable of
delivering broadband service and discusses selected
considerations for Congress. Fixed internet service means
service delivered through a stationary connection. Mobile
technology (e.g., fifth-generation [5G] wireless technology)
that is capable of delivering high-speed internet service is
outside the scope of this In Focus.
Fixed Broadband Technologies
Fixed technologies that are capable of providing consumers
with access to broadband include cable, digital subscriber
line (DSL), fiber, satellite, and terrestrial fixed wireless.
Some technologies provide consumers with a better-quality
broadband connection than others, as measured by speed,
latency (lag time), and reliability. Table 1 provides a
sampling of upload and download speed ranges of these
technologies. Table 2 provides the number of residential
connections (ordered from most to fewest) by technology in
the United States as of December 31, 2021.
Cable
Some cable service providers offer TV and broadband
internet simultaneously through the same coaxial cables,
with TV and internet provisioned on separate frequency
channels.
Digrtal Subscriber Line
Broadband service provided through DSL-an older
technology-transmits data over traditional copper-wire
telephone lines.
Fiber
Broadband service provided through fiber transmits data via
pulses of light. Fiber is hung (aerially) on poles or buried in
the ground and can be connected directly to individual
residences (fiber to the home) or to a local platform that
serves multiple customers (fiber to the curb or fiber to
the neighborhood).
Satellite
Satellite broadband is provided by satellites either in
geostationary or geosynchronous orbit (GEO) or in low
Earth orbit (LEO). A satellite antenna (dish), modem, and
direct line of sight are required for such service. LEO
satellites for broadband-positioned at a lower altitude
above the Earth than GEO satellites-are a newer satellite
broadband technology.
Terrestrial Fixed Wireless
Using radio spectrum (licensed and/or unlicensed),
broadband service through terrestrial fixed wireless
technology transmits data between two fixed locations
wirelessly but still relies on fiber or other physical cables
for backhaul connection to the provider's network.
Table I. Sampling of Fixed Broadband Technology
Speed Ranges (Upload and Download)
Technology Upload Download
Cable 10-500 Mbps 5-50 Mbps
Digital Subscriber Line 5-35 Mbps 1-10 Mbps
Fiber 250-1,000 Mbps 250-1,000 Mbps
Satellite (GEO) 25 Mbps 3 Mbps
Satellite (LEO) 25-220 Mbps 5-20 Mbps
Terrestrial Fixed 10-25 Mbps I Mbps
Wireless
Source: CenturyLink, Cable vs. DSL vs. Fiber Internet: Which is Best?,
October 6, 2021, at https://discover.centurylink.com/cable-vs-dsl-vs-
fiber-broadband-internet.html; AT&T, How Fast is AT&T Fixed Wireless
Internet?, at https://www.att.com/internet/fixed-wireless/; HughesNet,
What Comes in a HughesNet Plan?, at
https://www.hughesnetinternet.net; Starlink, Starlink Specifications, at
https://www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC- 1400-28829-70.
Note: Mbps = megabits per second.
Advertised Speeds and the National Broadband
Map
The speeds provided in Table 1 are ranges advertised by a
sampling of service providers. Consumers may or may not
experience these speeds-actual speeds may be higher or
lower. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
National Broadband Map provides information on
broadband service availability by specific providers,
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