FCC Progress Report: Over 8.3 Million US Homes and Businesses Lack High-Speed Internet, New Maps Provide Detailed Coverage Insights

   image from CNET 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released its first major progress report on the revamped coverage maps, which aim to accurately show areas with high-speed internet access in the United States. The report indicates that over 8.3 million homes and businesses in the US still lack access to high-speed broadband internet. 

The previous coverage maps relied on data from 8.1 million census blocks, assuming that if one location had high-speed broadband, all neighboring areas must also have it. However, the new maps are more detailed and granular, providing access results for 114 million homes and businesses across the country. Feedback and refinements based on user input have revealed 330,000 additional locations without high-speed internet compared to the previous maps.

The FCC is continuously updating the broadband coverage maps and has already added 1 million locations since the initial version was released in November. The agency reviewed responses from homeowners, businesses, and internet service providers to determine reliable access to high-speed broadband, which is currently defined as a minimum of 25Mbps download speed by the FCC.

The new maps also include coverage information for 5G mobile networks provided by major carriers. The FCC plans to provide twice-annual updates to keep the public informed about the latest data. The Broadband DATA Act mandated the creation of these maps, and they are funded by $65 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

The US government is investing $65 billion to improve access to high-speed internet as part of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure act passed in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of broadband access as lockdowns isolated communities and affected commerce. The new FCC coverage maps are an important step in identifying areas where connectivity falls short and closing the digital divide across the country.

May 31, 2023

Subscribe by Email

Follow Updates Articles from This Blog via Email