We still don’t know how many Americans lack broadband internet
Last year, the Federal Communications Commission found that over 21 million Americans lacked access to broadband. But that estimate may be conservative: A new study suggests the true number is probably twice that, Vice reports, a disparity that can be blamed on flawed data collection methods. The finding bears out reporting by The Counter’s Sam Bloch, who previously described problems with FCC methodology—namely, that the agency relies on self-reported data from companies, and does not track actual speeds. As a result, the government doesn’t actually know where broadband is available, while some Americans still live in the digital dark.
