In my previous post, I introduced my Capstone Project and provided a basic introduction to the broadband infrastructure divide facing rural communities across the United States. In this follow up post, I plan to address the tools and methods communities are using to bring attention to the need for increased investment in their technological infrastructure.
Why Maps?
In 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which included $65 billion for broadband deployment and affordability. In particular, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program earmarked $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the U.S. and its territories. In order for states to be eligible to receive this funding, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) stipulated that entities must meet a few conditions concerning the performance, availability, and security of broadband infrastructure within their state or territory.
The NTIA has placed an particular emphasis on “unserved” locations that do not have broadband speeds of at least 25/3-Mbps. PAgCASA and other organization’s mapping initiatives can help states address two parts of the NTIA’s requirements:
- Deliver internet service that is not subject to data caps and has reliable speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps and low enough latency
- Provide broadband service to end users within four years of receipt of funds, carry out public awareness campaigns, and make connections available to any customer within the service area covered by the funding award.
As discussed in the previous post, the FCC has collected connectivity data for localities across the country. However, it’s self-reported by ISPs and doesn’t provide a truly accurate picture of internet availability in America. By measuring broadband speeds in different areas, localities can identify where internet service is lacking and properly advocate for funding.
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