Given the importance of reliable and fast internet, In the face of the digital divide between the groups of the same society, Montana is working on a detailed map of broadband coverage through a design that combines different data, With the aim of providing equitable access to Internet services for all.
When governments invest large sums in a sector, You need accurate data on which the planning, implementation and follow-up teams are based, Especially in a sensitive and pivotal sector such as telecom and internet services. With the growing phenomenon of remote work and study, It is necessary to provide the so-called "broadband service" with higher quality and greater penetration, This term refers to services with fast access to the Internet, This allows the user to have greater speed in loading and uploading processes.
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission found, that use the service providers' subjective data, that 18.3 million citizens still lack broadband service, Other independent research puts the figure at 42 million. It is estimated that some groups such as low-income, elderly, minorities, rural and tribal people may not have access to service compared to other citizens.
With the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Demand for broadband service is growing at the federal level, Even the disparity in the quality of service may negatively affect the educational process of students. In the face of political pressure, The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act included $65 billion for state governments to use to increase broadband access over 10 years, but these governments need reliable data to channel funding based on requests from smaller local authorities.
Maps available at the national level do not provide sufficiently detailed information for authorities to make effective decisions, They are designed at the level of population blocs and divide areas according to them, On this basis, The classification "served" may be circulated to an entire region without any detailed data, Even if the service reaches only one or two residences.
therefore The State of Montana is working to develop a detailed map of unserved, underserved or minimally underserved locations, In cooperation with the "Lightbox" platform for real estate technology and information, By providing an innovative solution to integrate company core files, building footprint, address file, geocoding data, points of interest, mobile location, and tax estimator details into a flexible modeling fabric. This software, dubbed "Smart Fabric", allows users great flexibility in creating their own definitions of sites eligible for the service, It also allows the attachment of other information such as demographic data, speed data, areas of activity of Internet service providers and customer data sets.
The software used GIS technology to generate site analyses and to support mapping. It will coordinate the collection and purification of geospatial maps. The mapping will draw on data provided by ISPs as a voluntary contribution to the creation and use of a broadband service map.
What the authorities are seeking is not a map in the abstract, Rather, it is a point of convergence between what the data says and what ISPs offer, There is no doubt that a map is an excellent way to convert data into a visual equivalent, However, analyzing this data is what decision-makers need before choosing the right service providers based on their full-time and previous track record. To achieve this equation, Smart Fabric collects data from counties, tax authorities, the postal service, ISPs and several databases. It then analyzes this data to identify gaps in the broadband coverage system based on government definitions of coverage and eligible locations for services.
In Montana, Last year, authorities passed a new law that addressed the concept of an "unserviced" zone. He redefined it as an area with an upload speed of less than 25 Mbps and a upload speed of 10 Mbps; While the term "minimally served", It describes locations where broadband service is very limited or non-existent.
However, the process of expanding broadband service penetration has faced several challenges, The first of these is what is known as the "last mile", Most states receive service through private providers, That is, the source of its cost is the fees paid by users, In sparsely populated areas, Investment returns are not enough to cover the cost of building networks, Many families cannot afford to raise the cost; in other cases, It is difficult to reach some areas due to geographical factors such as rugged terrain or remoteness, The physical availability of the Service does not necessarily guarantee equitable access, This is confirmed by the low turnout in some areas despite discounts on subscription fees.
Conversely, Public funding argument that the social benefits of Internet access exceed private revenues, In Indiana, for example, Analytics indicate returns of 3-4 times the value of the investment.
According to Fed research, this investment will have significant social impacts. Increased broadband access will make it easier for rural people to access amenities, acquire digital skills, learn online, search for jobs and connect with health providers. This, in turn, will raise property values, reduce unemployment rates and promote population growth, which will contribute to improving the overall quality of life.
References:
https://gcn.com/data-analytics/2022/01/montana-builds-data-driven-broadband-coverage-map/361209/
