Summary: The White House issued an Open Data during the first week of May. Last year the FCC detailed how valuable its open data policy had been to the country in a case study of broadband mapping put together by the Woodrow WIlson Center. The executive summary and a video provide an introduction to what the agency learned.
In the Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008, Congress directed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to produce an interactive and search- able map detailing broadband avail- ability nationwide. This mandate was part of a comprehensive effort toward utilizing broadband to drive economic growth and improve social welfare. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the National Broadband Plan, proposed in 2010, were also part of this effort. The former authorized funding to provide focused broadband invest- ments to reinvigorate an economy that had faced numerous challenges. The latter identified broadband as a vital ingredient in lasting infrastruc- ture improvement. Through these actions, Congress clearly recog- nized that Internet connectivity has become a vital part of our society for all members. To ensure that no one is left behind, it is necessary to pinpoint the gaps in Internet avail- ability across the United States and to identify priorities for action.
