Broadband Mapping Bill Moves Forward – Markey: 'Can't fly blind' when it comes to policy

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31 Oct 2007

Yesterday the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation authored by Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) aimed at providing better broadband penetration data. The bill (H.R. 3919) will create a national, searchable map that’s easily accessible to consumers (in contrast to current FCC data). It will also authorize the issuing of grants to help bring service to under-served regions.

As we’ve mentioned previously, this bill has been watered down as it winds its way through DC. Originally, it was supposed to raise the FCC’s definition of broadband from 256kbps to 2Mbps, a provision that was subsequently stripped to gain bipartisan approval. The bill still, however, would finally do away with the FCC’s inadequate data collection methods. From a statement on Markey’s website:

If America hopes to catch up with the rest of the broadband world, we can’t have policymakers flying blind with respect to where service is and isn’t deployed, the speeds of such services, and consumer adoption rates. A national, searchable map will assist local communities to assess their own broadband inventory. Moreover, local planning grants will permit such communities to effectively organize to spur deployment and usage of broadband services in local areas.

It’s nearly 2008, and we’ve just discovered (assuming the bill even passes) that actually knowing who has broadband might be a good first step in creating broadband policy.
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