‘We Do Not Have Coverage Here:’ Texans Take On Federal Broadband Maps

“In lots of places they overstate coverage, and that’s a problem, because we have some resources that we all want to devote to make sure broadband reaches rural communities. And if we don’t have accurate maps, it’s not clear we’re going to be able to send those resources to the right places.”

By Paul FlahiveMay 21, 2019 9:30 am, , , ,

From Texas Public Radio:

1.8 million Texans lack broadband Internet access, and most of them live in rural Texas. Hundreds of millions of federal dollars could become available, but the government may not have an accurate picture of who has access and who doesn’t. This is part two of a multi-part series focusing on Connecting Rural Texas. 

If the total number of people in the U.S. lacking broadband internet access was a state — at around 25 million — it would be roughly the population of Texas.

But many argue the maps showing who has access and who doesn’t are wrong. And it could impact who gets money and grants to increase access. Some Texas communities are creating their own maps to correct the record. 

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