TPRC 2024: The 52nd Research Conference on Communications, Information and Inter

Link to paper

Abstract:
This study investigates the importance of broadband internet access reliability in underserved Alaskan communities. Analyzing measures of network latency and outages collected from anchor institutions over a two-year period, we demonstrate the inadequacy of existing broadband definitions to ensure adequate quality of service (QoS). Broadband reliability measurements are comprehensively assessed by identifying overall trends in network performance, the presence of cyclicality, and the impact of natural experiments.

Using quasi-experimental designs, the study models the impact of significant incidents on broadband service reliability, such as the Quintillion submarine cable getting cut by sea ice in the Summer 2023. Fourier transformations are applied to identify cyclical trends in broadband reliability, revealing temporal variations and underlying patterns influencing service quality over time. Additionally, the research assesses QoS in ISPs and regions, facilitating a comparative analysis of performance metrics and identifying changes in service quality over the study period.

Alaska represents an edge case, but the empirical evidence of these challenges and the implications of inconsistent broadband reliability has broad application to underserved rural regions across the United States. These insights are relevant to policymakers, stakeholders, and ISPs as they prioritize once in a generation broadband infrastructure investments. This research underscores the critical role of reliable broadband access in supporting critical infrastructure, promoting socio-economic development, and addressing the digital divide.