To Improve Broadband Deployment, Enhanced Data Collection Is Key

A new report from Pew Research Center provides a review of available federal sources of broadband data and gaps and issues with those data. Within the report, Pew also examines the implications of these gaps on public policy and offers potential solutions to address them. The literature included in the summary were published from 2008 - 2024 and described shortcomings with broadband data including: limited data granularity; inconsistent geographic reporting; industry-derived availability data; lack of pricing data; inconsistent definitions; and inconsistent evaluations to monitor broadband adoption and determine program efficacy.