The National Broadband Mapping Coalition, a cross-disciplinary group of network analysts, policy experts, digital inclusion advocates, and technologists, submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) regarding the Notice of  Inquiry (NOI) on Implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Prevention and Elimination of Digital Discrimination. 

In this NOI, published on March 17, 2022,  the FCC seeks input on how to best define, specifically address, and eventually eliminate digital discrimination. In the inquiry, the FCC writes: “Every person across our Nation deserves—and must have—equal access to this crucial technology in the increasingly digital world; a person’s zip code should not determine their destiny.”

“We are at a critical moment for equitable access and use of broadband,” says Dustin Loup, the Coalition’s Program Manager. “The Commission has an opportunity to establish rules that provide a stronger, more comprehensive approach to ensure everyone in the U.S. is able to fully benefit from the Internet.

“In our comments, the National Broadband Mapping Coalition  believes that the definition of ‘equal access’ must incorporate the right to be free of discrimination that would hinder access to comparable quality of service and cost. 

“We urge the FCC to include affordability and reliability in developing a shared understanding of what is truly required for ‘equal access.’ Internet access that is unaffordable or unreliable should not be considered an equal opportunity to access the Internet and all of the benefits it brings. 

“Finally, we argue that the FCC must identify a more robust set of network performance metrics and establish processes for measuring, analyzing, and reporting on those metrics to ensure equitable access is being provided. As the Internet and its many applications continue to evolve, these metrics will provide a more complete and transparent account of the quality of experience for everyone in the U.S. that depends on the Internet for a wide range of uses. Ultimately, people rely on their connection for equitable participation in society.” 

Read the Coalition’s full comments here.

The Marconi Society is a founding member of the National Broadband Mapping Coalition, and provides fiscal support to the Coalition’s work.