One major critic of the FCC's broadband collection methodology has been the General Accounting Office, who recently penned a report claiming the FCC's methods made it nearly impossible to assess how broadband-wired rural America is. The FCC looks at a zip code, and if that zip code has just one customer with broadband service, that zip code is considered "served." Critics charge that this method is used to mask dysfunctional or incumbent-friendly policy, while others insist it's simple incompetence.

The GAO is back again this week with another look at broadband competition, but this time for business customers. The report (pdf) found very little competition among business providers even in "high demand" metro areas and lambasts the FCC for again failing to have effective methods of determining if competition exists. Without effective market analysis and solid data, how can the FCC be making sound decisions?