Again with the broadband??? Yup.

There is a most interesting wire service story in the LA Times: Congress passes bill aimed at measuring Internet access. 

So what’s the big deal?  Well, according to the FCC, 99% of the nation has broadband.  If you live in northern Michigan you know that’s nonsense.  Here’s where the phony information comes from.  

• If even one household in a zipcode has broadband, the FCC considers the whole zipcode to have the service.  In rural areas like ours that’s laughable. 
• The FCC’s definition of what constitutes broadband is woefully low: 200 kbps.  Don’t let your eyes glaze over.  Just keep in mind that in some parts of our country–and in almost all of Japan–the speed is 250 times faster than that.

The Broadband Data Improvement Act requires the FCC to paint a more accurate picture, and to report to Congress at least annually.  That might help us move forward on the basis of accurate information.  What a concept.

You can read a lot more about it here:

• From eWeek.Com:  Broadband Mapping Bill Leads to White House
• From ConsumerAffairs.Com: Congress Passes Broadband Data Improvement Act
• From PC World: US Congress Passes Broadband Mapping Bill