GAO has a report on the problems FCC faces in providing national broadband.There's a new law:
To identify areas that need broadband access, the Universal Service Fund relies on maps of internet accessibility based on data collected from broadband providers. However, this data is not always accurate. For example, some rural areas with low populations are lumped together, and may appear to have access when they do not. This is because providers may report the entire area as having broadband even if only one location has service. The result of this mapping error is that resources to improve internet access do not always match the need.
To get more precise assessments, Congress approved the Broadband DATA Act in 2020. This required FCC to create a better map starting with getting more granular data on the precise locations of homes, businesses, and other places that could make use of broadband. Once this location map is complete, FCC will overlay broadband providers’ service area data to show which locations are served and which are not.
GAO notes the problems in combining available databases, like USPS, Census, and DOT address data. Many of the problems mentioned were familiar from back in the day when we were trying to achieve consistency across counties and across agencies.
What struck me was the lack of any mention of USGS. So I went to their site, I'd not been in 10 or more years, and found the National Map. It's more impressive than it used to be, but obviously doesn't serve as the base for governmental action. Took a look at Rural Utilities, which GAO also discussed, but they don't seem to have used GIS in their broadband efforts.
I wonder whether other countries have been more successful in coordinating the rollout of broadband to their rural areas.
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