Kansas City prides itself on being a national leader for digital equity. Becoming the first Google Fiber city in 2011 launched KC into the spotlight as it became America’s first gigabit metropolis.
The general openness of the Internet has generated tremendous economic and social value, giving users the freedom to connect, speak, innovate, and share content without restrictions. Unfortunately, many countries have in recent years enacted policies that undermine this openness. At the same time the Internet has never been fully open. Governments have long blocked illicit and dangerous material such as terrorist propaganda, pirated content, and malware. Too little openness limits the economic and social value of the Internet. Too much openness allows harmful activity.
The primary objective of the report is to inform policymakers about continuing obstacles to broadband deployment on Tribal lands, highlight Tribal success stories, and provide potential solutions that could benefit residents of Indian country. The report identifies obstacles to broadband deployment and associated issues, including statutory obstacles; regulatory and economic barriers; geography and demographics; deployment barriers; mapping challenges; Tribal consultation and engagement issues; accessibility; and adoption and demand issues.
The House is scheduled to vote on its bipartisan compromises aimed at improving broadband mapping and securing the US telecommunications supply chain (and helping rural wireless carriers rip and replace any existing gear from providers like Huawei that the administration has labeled a security risk).
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