FCC Data Exaggerates Broadband Access On Tribal Lands (arstechnica.com) 54
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Broadband access in tribal areas is likely even worse than previously thought because Federal Communications Commission data overstates deployment, according to a new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). FCC data collection was already known to be suspect throughout the U.S., not just in tribal areas, which in turn makes it difficult for the FCC to target deployment funding to the areas that need it most. Tribal lands have less broadband access than most other parts of the U.S. and thus may be disproportionately affected by the FCC's data collection problems.
"Residents of tribal lands have lower levels of broadband Internet access relative to the U.S. as a whole, but the digital divide may be greater than currently thought," the GAO wrote. "FCC data overstated tribes' broadband availability and access to broadband service. These overstatements limit FCC and tribal users' ability to target broadband funding to tribal lands." Despite the well-known broadband access problems in tribal areas, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has been trying to limit the Lifeline subsidies that help tribal residents purchase Internet access. A federal appeals court recently blocked Pai's attempt to take a broadband subsidy away from tribal areas.
"Residents of tribal lands have lower levels of broadband Internet access relative to the U.S. as a whole, but the digital divide may be greater than currently thought," the GAO wrote. "FCC data overstated tribes' broadband availability and access to broadband service. These overstatements limit FCC and tribal users' ability to target broadband funding to tribal lands." Despite the well-known broadband access problems in tribal areas, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has been trying to limit the Lifeline subsidies that help tribal residents purchase Internet access. A federal appeals court recently blocked Pai's attempt to take a broadband subsidy away from tribal areas.
Headline contains unnecessary words (Score:4, Insightful)
The lobbyists just forgot to do something about that particular group being allowed to complain.
Re: (Score:3)
Exactly. They exaggerate access everywhere else (e.g. if, as self-reported by ISP X, anyone in the county has the option for broadband from ISP X, everyone in the county is regarded as having broadband access offered from ISP X according to the FCC’s current methodology, even if it’s just that one customer actually being offered broadband), so they’re simply being consistent here.
Re: (Score:2)
However in this particular story about tribal lands there are additional legal issues involved. There are "Lifeline" subsidies involved here, and the FCC was using incorrect data in its attempt to remove the subsidies.
Re: (Score:2)
I just heard some sad news on talk radio - Horror/Sci Fi writer Stephen King was found dead.
I just searched Google and Twitter and there are no stories about it yet. I guess if Google doesn't know then it's likely not true or he just died seconds ago?
Re: (Score:2)
YHBT. YHL. HAND.
Re: (Score:1)
the fcc isn't the ones exaggerating.. this time. it's the lying, cheating, money-grabbing, grant-stealing telcos that serve these areas. the tribal lands around me in the midwest have virtually no high speed internet past about a mile from the 'developed' part (which happens to be the closest part to town and within the distance limits of dsl served from equipment there.. a corner store, tribal offices.. not much else), and even then all that's available is about 5-6mbit dsl max, on a good day, with good li
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Like the rest of this administration, the FCC is a criminal enterprise now (emphasis added)
Nice job, Trump voters
I just knew that this sort of thing was going to crop up in this discussion. Let me share a few quotes from the report:
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as of December 2016, 35.4 percent of Americans residing on tribal lands lacked access to fixed broadband services, compared to 7.7 percent of all Americans.
owever, in 2016 we reported that tribal and federal officials had concerns that the federal map of broadband availability at the time (the National Broadband Map) did not accurately depict broadband availability on tribal lands.
The federal government has not updated the National Broadband Map since April 2015, with the last update containing data as of June 30, 2014.
To address both objectives, we analyzed FCCâ(TM)s December 2016â"the most recent data at the time of our review
In case it isn't obvious, all of those statements clearly indicate that the data and analysis are from prior to Trump taking office. Now, the Trump administration has done plenty that is worthy of criticism, but so did the Obama administration. Yet, I see plenty of Republicans willing to openly criticize Trump, but hardly any Democrats willing to criticize Obama, Hillary, etc.
If the stra
Re: (Score:1)
'FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has been trying to limit the Lifeline subsidies that help tribal residents purchase Internet access', this is the issue, not when the data was collected.
But, please, don't let the fact that your apologist attempt to deflect was so blatantly obvious that everyone who read it knew exactly what was your intent stop you from, "what about Obama??!!!???", gas lighting. We understand what a reach y'all Trumpette's are having to go to these days.
Re: (Score:1)
Native's Hrumph (Score:2)
Can't have the natives sharing broadband communications, might get uppity about their rights or lack there of. The establishment response, let's not kid about, 'FUCK EM'. Might complain about polluting their land, stealing their resources, killing their people, the rest of the world might really hear how the US government Federal, State and Local, abuses native Americans upon a routine and regular basis. I am Australian and this message is brought to you by the way the Australian government, Federal, State
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The idea that native Americans are running around saving the environment is ignorant.
Some tribes care more about the environment than others. The idea that you can paint all native Americans with the same brush is ignorant.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The idea that they are some sort of mystical people who protect the environment is comical.
No, it's disingenuous. The only person who's suggested it is you.
Re: Native's Hrumph (Score:1)
Nonsense. It's implicit in the original comment, and it's an integral part of the left-wing rhetoric surrounding indigenous peoples. Natives are painted as these holistic gurus with a close connection to nature, so that you can use them as figureheads in your protests against things like the Dakota Pipeline. It's a useful fiction.
Re: Native's Hrumph (Score:1)
Thanks for demonstrating my point for me.
It is usually very convenient (Score:3)
to support your position when you make up the data only to support your position.
I guess maybe someone hacked the FCC again to produce these outright lies. /s
Re: (Score:1)
Better Article at The Register (Score:4, Informative)
The Register has a better article on this here.
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/09/13/fcc_broadband_data_garbage/ [theregister.co.uk]
They do a pretty good job of breaking down why the FCC data is so flawed and also why this report only deals with Tribal Lands.
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: Tribal bribes - look a lie! (Score:1)
https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/systems-utilities/tower-construction-notifications
It's right there. Now AC, learn to wipe your own ass after you take a shit
Relying on government (Score:2)
What better way to keep a population compliant and docile, than by conditioning them to believe, that government — and its officially-sanctioned monopolies — is the source of all the important things: food, shelter, electricity and other utilities, healthcare, and now the Internet service?
At what point did we collectively swallow the patent falsehood, that without the benevolent and omniscient government officials none of those things would've been available — and that any self-evident pro
Socialism (Score:1)
Please read the article. So misleading. (Score:2, Offtopic)
I was curious of what was going on here. Had the FCC in the last 2 years suddenly gave the shaft to tribal lands? Here is an quote from the article:
"As of December 2016, only 64.6 percent of tribal areas had access to home Internet services with speeds of at least 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up, for example. Those speeds were available in 69.3 percent of rural areas and 97.9 percent of urban areas."
First, who was in control of the FCC on December 2016? Not who's controlling it now. Where was the outcry then!!
High speed Internet on tribal lands? (Score:2)