Mapping bill raises hope for quick action by Congress

Yesterday, the House of Representatives Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee approved legislation to improve data collection on high speed Internet deployment.  The bill incorporates key provisions supported by CWA's Speed Matters campaign and is another important step in bringing high speed Internet access to every American.

The legislation, the Broadband Census of America Act, directs the FCC to improve its broadband data collection and directs the Department of Commerce to create a national, detailed broadband map of America.  It also establishes a program of grants to states to conduct broadband mapping and to establish local community technology teams -- modeled after ConnectKentucky.

CWA President Larry Cohen pointed out the importance of improving our data on high speed Internet deployment:

In order for our country to move forward to ensure that a 21st century Internet is available for all, we need key information and better data to help us get there. This measure will greatly improve the quality of that information and we commend Representative Edward J. Markey, who chairs the subcommittee, for his efforts to move this forward.

As the FCC currently tracks high speed Internet, if even one person has high speed Internet in a zip code, the entire zip code is identified as having access. This system is faulty, especially in rural areas where huge regions can have the same zip code, and it does not accurately represent who has high speed Internet access and who does not.

Improved and accurate mapping of high speed Internet access is a crucial step in getting national policy that will improve the quality, availability and affordability of high speed Internet access. As Larry Cohen said,

Unfortunately, we don't know the full extent of our problem because our data is so poor. We don't know where high-speed networks are deployed, how many households and small businesses connect to the Internet, at what speed, and how much they pay. Without this information, we can't craft good policy solutions. So we continue to fall farther behind.

This legislation, along with the Broadband Data Improvement Act introduced in the Senate by Senator Daniel Inouye, raises the hope of quick action to enable us to move toward a national policy that will bring the promise of high speed Internet access to all.

CWA: Broadband Mapping Bill is Important Step in Campaign to Bring High Speed Internet to All (Press Release)

ConnectKentucky

Lawmakers Approve Broadband Mapping Plan (eWeek.com)

Senator Inouye Introduces Broadband Data Improvement Act (SpeedMatters)