While private capital investments will help spur this progress, Microsoft does require a little cooperation from the FCC, in the form of three sub-700 MHz channels across the country that they can use for broadband internet. They’re also asking for more data on the lack of broadband internet in rural America to better inform future decisions. Finally, Microsoft is reaching out to state and federal governments to match private donations via their infrastructure budgets, as broadband internet will dramatically improve any ecosystem it is properly set up in. In the land of the free and the home of the brave, leaving such a huge portion of the population out of the internet discussion is a true travesty. Yes, the internet is used for a lot of dumb stuff, but it’s also used to communicate with family members, transfer money when it’s needed, and stay informed about the problems facing the world today. And that privilege… no, that right should be had by everyone.
