The federal government is aiming to upgrade infrastructure by closing the gaps in the country’s high-speed Internet network amid the coronavirus pandemic. But officials are running into a problem, they aren’t sure where the gaps exist, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The Federal Communications Commission estimates more than 94% of Americans have access to high-speed internet services. But the FCC also knows that number is based on flawed information provided by internet-service providers, according to the newspaper.
If government officials can't pinpoint where gaps exist, those places won’t receive funding they need for the internet service.
The FCC requires internet providers to report that they serve a census block even if they only service one home or business. That means people are counted as having a broadband connection even if they don’t.
Due to the discrepancy, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel wants to postpone plans to auction $16 billion to internet-service providers this October to upgrade broadband infrastructure in rural areas. She wants to delay action until the FCC has an accurate list of what areas actually have service.
“You don’t manage problems you cannot measure,” Rosenworcel told the newspaper.
But not everyone wants to wait. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the auction should take place on time because it will benefit many communities.
“The choice we face as a nation is simple: Do we help them now, or do we delay relief until we can determine who else needs help, too? To me, rural America has waited long enough,” he said in a statement, adding that the FCC can fill in remaining service gaps when it has better data.
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