Americans are limited in broadband provider options; FCC wants to promote more choices

About 80 percent of American homes are connected to wireless broadband connection, but most consumers are limited in their choice of providers. Tom Wheeler, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, wants to change that. Wheeler said in a speech that the FCC plans "to promote more choices and protect competition because a lack of adequate consumer choice inhibits innovation, investment and economic benefits," Edward Wyatt reports for The New York Times.

Wheeler said: “There is an inverse relationship between competition and the kind of broadband performance that consumers are increasingly demanding. This is not tolerable.” In his speech Wheeler cited statistics from the Commerce Department’s State Broadband Initiative, which includes a report on Broadband Availability in Urban vs. Rural Areas. (National Broadband Map)