Accurate data essential to improving rural broadband access

JOHNATHAN HLADIK

Policy Director

Center for Rural Affairs

The Pew Research Center finds that only 63% of rural Americans have a broadband internet connection at home, and 24% of rural adults consider access to high speed internet a major problem in their community.

Recent policy developments are designed to address this. But, will they be enough?

In July, the Federal Communications Commission established the Digital Opportunity Data Collection program. This program will collect broadband access data at the address level, and use those results to direct funding meant to fill gaps in coverage. T...