Microsoft and the Digital Divide

 I recently read an article about Microsoft President shaming the government, because of their lack of TRYING to get the digital divide closed even by a little bit.  

The broadband map that the FCC supplies online has been downright awful from it's beginning.  I tried this morning to look up my address on the map, and I guess my address doesn't exist.  Next, I just entered the town in general.  There were three options they claim we have for rural broadband.  Two of them are the known Satellite companies, and then a cable company.  The cable company they have listed DOESN'T serve our area.  The DSL company that I use isn't on the list, and I see signs all over town about DISH TV offering their Satellite internet which wasn't on the list either.  Lastly, AT&T also offers Fixed Wireless and they are absent from the list as well.

The biggest issue I found with the FCC broadband map in the past is that vendors SELF report, and companies could claim they service the area with their exaggerated speeds and performance.  It didn't matter if it was accurate, and the government used this map (one aspect) to issue grants to these internet giants to expand rural broadband.  On my cynical side?  They don't want to service our area, and no doubt put their claims in about how THEY are already service here so they aren't questioned about it. Self Reporting is a rather stupid when you are talking billions of dollars of Federal grants. 

The Pandemic started to wake some people in the government up a bit, because everyone at that point needed broadband.  During the height of the Pandemic our schools were closed like the rest of the country.  The media filled the airwaves about zoom calls, and classes online.  Problem is you can't do that if companies don't offer rural broadband in your area.  

If you did have internet?  Chances are it didn't work well for online learning, because the bandwidth (one aspect) was overloaded.  So, even if you were lucky enough to HAVE rural broadband?  Their services were not built for the capacity that was needed.  

I know one location parents drove to here was the Trigg County Convention Center & Recreation Complex, because they brought in a trailer to provide WIFI.  When our family went there to get our vaccine shots?  The password was still listed in the window.  So your children were doing online schooling inside their parents cars.

Microsoft has their own map, and there is a HUGE difference between what the FCC THINKS is available, and what actually is.  Here is a screenshot I took today:

When you hear the reports on rating of available broadband in Kentucky?  We rank 44th last time I checked.  This is out of the 50 states of course.  Notice the HUGE difference Microsoft is reporting, and what the FCC 'self reporting' claims.  

Microsoft a number of years ago started The Microsoft Airband Initiative .

Their program started with the idea of using Television White Spaces to delivery rural broadband, and they want to partner up with companies, governments, etc. to help with the digital divide.  This expands outside the United States as well.  They seem to have been honking this horn for a while now.

Unfortunately, it seems government has regulated themselves out of the power seat to even negotiate better services to many parts of America.  

A Milwaukee newspaper basically quoted the lack of authority that government has (which its pretty much none) to even require Telecom's to address the issues of service, and lack of service.

When you sign up for their services (The Telecom) you agree to arbitration with them, and can not sue them for the lack or awful service they provide.  So, if you sign up for a rural broadband service that claims UP TO 25 meg of service?  You speed of 3 is still within that range.  

Most internet service providers, including CenturyLink, Frontier, Spectrum and AT&T, have language in their subscription contracts that prevents customers from suing them, and instead sends disputes into private arbitration. 

In April 2016, a bill was introduced in Congress aimed at ending forced arbitration clauses in internet, mobile phone, and cable television contracts. Called the Justice for Telecommunications Consumers Act, it never passed.

Madison attorney Anita Gallucci said it's not feasible for the typical broadband customer to take legal action alone against one of the companies.

Notice the Act in Congress never passed.  No doubt the Telecom's have plenty of power to stop anything that hurts their bottom line.  Yet, love those Federal grant dollars they get to allegedly improve rural broadband.  

Congress really needs to get on the ball here (I know I'm dreaming here), because the Pandemic showed how they have completely DROPPED the ball when it comes to rural broadband in this country.

I'm still waiting to hear from Starlink.  (crossing fingers)