The FCC’s Broadband Deployment Report states that 21.3 million Americans, or 6.5 percent of the population, lack access to broadband internet, including wired and fixed wireless connections. This figure relies upon semi-annual self-reporting by internet service providers using the FCC-mandated “Form 477.”
However, there is a widely acknowledged flaw with Form 477 reporting: if an ISP offers service to at least one household in a census block, then the FCC counts the entire census block as covered by that provider. BroadbandNow Research examined the magnitude of this flaw by manually checking internet availability using FCC data as the source of truth for randomly selected addresses.
Based on our research, we estimate that 42 million Americans do not have access to wired or fixed wireless broadband.
RTFA to understand the details. Based on my reading, the FCC is incompetent or simply doesn’t care about truthful reporting.
Or both.
The abilities and attitude of the trump-era FCC are epitomized by the demonstrated attitude of current chairman Ajit Pai, that he knows what is best for the “people” and the “people” don’t include anybody who hasn’t previously employed him.
FCC helps Charter avoid broadband competition https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/06/fcc-helps-charter-avoid-broadband-competition/
Meanwhile: Despite a member of the Federal Communications Commission announcing a willingness to issue a pause order on Ligado Networks, the chances of the FCC reversing itself in its support for the company are almost nonexistent, according to a commission source. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/2020/06/26/fcc-unlikely-to-grant-stay-or-vote-again-on-ligado/
Ajit Pai touted false broadband data despite clear signs it wasn’t accurate : “The FCC should fine itself”: Pai relied on ISP’s impossible deployment claims. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/09/ajit-pai-touted-false-broadband-data-despite-clear-signs-it-wasnt-accurate/