FCC’S NEW BROADBAND DEFINITION BRINGS FASTER SPEEDS TO iTV-3 CUSTOMERS
Published: February 17, 2015
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, February 17, 2015-- Prompted by a recent policy change at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to re-define broadband speed in the U.S. as 25 Mbps or higher, local broadband provider iTV-3 will also increase all bandwidth packages by 10 Mbps at no charge to customers.
According to Levi Dinka, Vice President at iTV-3, the change will ensure all iTV-3 customers exceed the FCC’s definition of broadband. The change, effective immediately, will be applied to all existing iTV-3/UC2B customers, not just residential users.
The below numbers show the previous and new speed packages offered by iTV-3.
Previous Speed New Speed
20/20 Mbps 30/30 Mbps
40/40 Mbps 50/50 Mbps
50/50 Mbps 60/60 Mbps
“We are increasing the speed tier of all existing Champaign and Urbana iTV-3 customers by 10 Mbps at no additional charge to ensure that every user will exceed the new FCC definition of broadband speed,” said Dinkla. “New areas will be constructed beginning this Spring, bringing gigabit Internet speeds to businesses and neighborhoods throughout the community. iTV-3 gigabit Internet is yet another reason for people to be excited to live, work, and do business in Champaign and Urbana.”
The FCC’s decision to redefine broadband raises the minimum download speed from 4 Mbps to 25 Mbps and the minimum upload speed from 1 Mbps to 3 Mbps.
iTV-3, a Peoria-based family-owned company, was announced as the private partner of the UC2B not-for-profit in May 2014 and will expand and operate the existing UC2B gigabit network. Numerous “behind-the-scenes” updates to the network have already been completed, which will enable fast and reliable speeds to future users.
The network’s expansion is driven by demand. A neighborhood in Urbana was the first to reach the required number of sign-ups in November 2014, and iTV-3 sales teams have continued door-to-door canvassing this Winter. Construction is slated to start as early as possible this Spring.
Visit www.ThePerfectUpgrade.com to learn more about service packages and see how many sign-ups are needed in each neighborhood.
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iTV-3 is a subsidiary of the Illinois-based family-owned company that owns and operates more than 775 Family Video stores in 19 states and Canada. Family Video is the largest movie and game rental chain in the United States. Family Video has three stores in Champaign-Urbana. It has been in the Internet Service Provider business since the mid 1990’s, and has provided fiber-based services since 2009. Learn more at www.ThePerfectUpgrade.com.
UC2B is a not-for-profit organization created by the Cities of Urbana and Champaign and the University of Illinois to oversee the UC2B fiber optic network throughout the community. UC2B started as an intergovernmental consortium in 2010 to build and operate the UC2B fiber-optic network using federal and state grants with local matching funds. For more information about UC2B, visit www.uc2b.net.