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FCC Data Exaggerates Broadband Access On Tribal Lands (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Broadband access in tribal areas is likely even worse than previously thought because Federal Communications Commission data overstates deployment, according to a new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). FCC data collection was already known to be suspect throughout the U.S., not just in tribal areas, which in turn makes it difficult for the FCC to target deployment funding to the areas that need it most. Tribal lands have less broadband access than most other parts of the U.S. and thus may be disproportionately affected by the FCC's data collection problems.
"Residents of tribal lands have lower levels of broadband Internet access relative to the U.S. as a whole, but the digital divide may be greater than currently thought," the GAO wrote. "FCC data overstated tribes' broadband availability and access to broadband service. These overstatements limit FCC and tribal users' ability to target broadband funding to tribal lands." Despite the well-known broadband access problems in tribal areas, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has been trying to limit the Lifeline subsidies that help tribal residents purchase Internet access. A federal appeals court recently blocked Pai's attempt to take a broadband subsidy away from tribal areas.
"Residents of tribal lands have lower levels of broadband Internet access relative to the U.S. as a whole, but the digital divide may be greater than currently thought," the GAO wrote. "FCC data overstated tribes' broadband availability and access to broadband service. These overstatements limit FCC and tribal users' ability to target broadband funding to tribal lands." Despite the well-known broadband access problems in tribal areas, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has been trying to limit the Lifeline subsidies that help tribal residents purchase Internet access. A federal appeals court recently blocked Pai's attempt to take a broadband subsidy away from tribal areas.
I was curious of what was going on here. Had the FCC in the last 2 years suddenly gave the shaft to tribal lands? Here is an quote from the article:
"As of December 2016, only 64.6 percent of tribal areas had access to home Internet services with speeds of at least 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up, for example. Those speeds were available in 69.3 percent of rural areas and 97.9 percent of urban areas."
First, who was in control of the FCC on December 2016? Not who's controlling it now. Where was the outcry then!!!
Second, the data from tribal areas compared to rural areas is nearly the same. The comparison to urban areas doesn't make sense. Most of the tribal land is not urbanized. (and i believe a lot of Native Americans would prefer it that way)
So the article proves the following:
When President Obama was in office this "horrific" FCC mentality was firmly in place. How dare he, and his corrupt FCC!!
I wrote this not to put down the former president, or elevate the current president and his FCC. I believe people need to be able to look at facts and make informed decisions. Please people, don't allow anyone to hijack your thoughts by pandering to your "political lean". Do some quick research and be a better person for it.