On July 16, 2018, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) responded to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) request for public comment on improving the quality and accuracy of broadband availability data. NHMC has been steadfast in its efforts to address the digital divide and recognizes the importance of documenting connectivity, especially for communities struggling with access.
Federal agencies must reassess how they measure broadband “availability.” Otherwise, as stated in the filing, a community that is considered “served” today may become “underserved” tomorrow if increases in network demand exceed the rate by which their providers are willing to invest in the requisite infrastructure. Poor Internet service quality is an underreported problem and only reinforces barriers to social, economic, and civic engagement.
NHMC also joined New America’s Open Technology Institute (OTI) in its comments urging NTIA to collect data on pricing and other barriers to broadband adoption. Similar to NHMC’s comments, OTI explained that “robust data is a vital component of informed policymaking and efforts to close America’s persistent digital divide.”
