New FCC Report on Internet Usage Excludes Tribal Data
Morgan Gray
Senior Research Analyst
Read the fact sheet to learn more.
Summary:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released Internet Access Services: Status as of June 20, 2024, estimating 549 million internet connections nationwide with breakdowns by technology type, speed, and state or territory.
However, the report fails to show the breakdown of internet availability on Tribal lands or acknowledge Tribal communities individually.
Why it matters:
Under the BDC system, service providers must submit a list of locations served to the FCC and the maximum advertised upload and download speeds, twice per year. This data feeds into the FCC’s National Broadband Map, also known as the Fabric, and shows all broadband serviceable locations in the U.S.
National broadband development programs, such as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, utilize the Fabric’s data to distribute federal funding for broadband deployment projects based on need.
When federal agencies use data sets like the Fabric to allocate funding, it is essential that these reflect true broadband availability in Tribal communities to ensure resources reach those most in need. Under the federal trust responsibility, the FCC must act in Tribal Nations’ best interest, including ensuring the Fabric’s accuracy for Tribal lands and highlighting Tribal-specific data in future broadband reports.
Read the fact sheet to learn more.
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