FCC Seeks Comment on Next Broadband Deployment Report, Over Dissents by FCC Democrats
FCC commissioners split 3-2 on a notice of inquiry released Wednesday seeking comment for the next broadband deployment report. Democrats dissented as they did on the 2020 report (see 2004230060), which said broadband was “reasonable and timely” deployed nationwide. Comments…
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are due Sept. 18, replies Oct. 5, in docket 20-269. “This proceeding is the perfect place to detail the extent of our nation’s broadband challenges,” said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. The last report “found all was well,” she said: “It clapped its hands and said job done. That’s just not right. For starters, the FCC concluded that there were only 18 million people in the United States without access to broadband. That number wildly understates the extent of the digital divide in the country.” The FCC “continues to repeat its mistakes,” including comparing providers’ deployment in one year against past years to measure progress, said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. “We also continue to rely on the Commission’s misleading Form 477 data,” he said, “despite broad recognition that Form 477 has distorted our view of the digital divide.” Only they released statements. “While the 2020 Report acknowledged there is still work to be done to fully close the digital divide, more Americans than ever before now have access to the benefits of broadband as the Commission’s policies have created a regulatory environment to stimulate broadband investment and deployment,” the NOI said. Commissioners approved the NOI Aug. 7.