26.2 million Americans still lack access to 3 Mbps/768 kbps or faster fixed broadband services, and 72% of them live in rural areas, according to a new report released by the Federal Communications Commission and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). This number constitutes 28% of rural Americans and is more than nine times as large as the 3% that lack access in non-rural areas. Further, it was noted that rural consumers have fewer choices among technologies and service providers. This new report also recognized the substantial investments that have been made including $8 billion in grants and loans that were given to projects for broadband deployment and adoption via RUS’ Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). It made note of initiatives to improve data collection, and the creation of a National Broadband Map.
 

Among the recommendations made in the report was for the Commission to reform and modernize the Universal Service Fund (USF) programs and intercarrier compensation system to ensure that broadband providers are incentivized to deploy and encourage adoption of broadband in rural areas. Further, it called on the FCC to remove barriers to rural broadband deployment to promote further private and public investment, innovation, and job creation.

See: FCC Press Release, Joint USDA-FCC Release