BroadbandNow did this by looking directly at 11,663
addresses that fell under the auspices of large ISPs with
“check availability” tools on their websites. According to
the ISPs, all the addresses should have service
(according to the Form 477 data). But 19.6 percent of
those addresses came back with reports that the ISP’s
service is not available. Even if the address had more
than one major ISP option, BroadbandNow found 13
percent of them still couldn’t get high-speed internet.
This doesn’t include coverage of hyper-local ISPs—
those little providers that are perhaps municipally run
or just service a small area. So it’s possible the
addresses could be covered by them—they don’t have
the same “check availability” tools accessible by anyone
(like BroadbandNow).
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another 6.5 percent of the population to what the FCC
originally said.
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I MARCH 2020
More like
42.82 million
people can’t
get wired
broadband
(or even
fixed
wireless) in
this country.