Our $300 Million Broadband Map Is Stuck in Useless Limbo In February of 2011 the government released our first ever broadband map (available here) after spending roughly $300 million on the project. Our readers by and large were unimpressed at the time, noting the map didn't list prices, and often reported non-existent competitors and unavailable speeds in many markets. Many of these shortcomings are due to carriers, who have fought for the last decade to keep price comparison and deployment data out of the hands of consumers.

So while the intention was arguably good, the implementation wasn't for a number of reasons. And while the government deserves lots of blame, so do ISP lobbyists that work tirelessly to ensure consumers don't have access to accurate price, speed or coverage data. These days the map just kind of sits there, a highlighted notice at the top indicating that the data used by the map is from 2014 -- because a budget request to continue funding the map was rejected by Congress. "Data displayed on the National Broadband Map site are as of June 30, 2014 and are no longer being updated," says the website. "The Commission sought funding for FY 2016 to maintain and update the National Broadband Map, but this request was not granted." This week Congress debated what to do with the map during a three-hour hearing on broadband, the House Communications Subcommittee leader Marsha Blackburn admitting that the map could use a little TLC. "We must accurately collect and aggregate data to update the National Broadband Map," insisted Blackburn, a Tennesee Representative long criticized for being far too cozy with companies like AT&T and Comcast (something her campaign finance record certainly supports). The problem: larger broadband providers don't really have a vested interest in consumers getting an accurate picture of the broadband landscape, since it would highlight competitive shortcomings. More accurate coverage and pricing data would be sure to highlight how AT&T and Verizon are effectively hanging up on millions of DSL users, giving cable ISPs a growing monopoly across a massive swath of the country. As such, actually funding the map and ensuring that it's spewing accurate data may be a bridge too far -- especially given that the GOP has made it very clear its over-arching goal is to gut FCC funding and authority -- and the lion's share of its policy agendas. Trump's overall budget trims funding for both the NTIA and the FCC, suggesting the broadband map could be an early casualty of the cuts despite Blackburn's sudden dedication to it. While the idea of the map was well intentioned, its failure to include broadband pricing -- and its tendency to hallucinate speeds using falsely-optimistic ISP data -- never let the concept live up to its full potential. While the idea of the map was well intentioned, its failure to include broadband pricing -- and its tendency to hallucinate speeds using falsely-optimistic ISP data -- never let the concept live up to its full potential.







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Most recommended from 24 comments

mmmdonuts

join:2011-02-28

Raleigh, NC 9 recommendations mmmdonuts Member $300 million? Can anyone here possibly think this is worth $300 mil and should get more gov funding? Even if the maps were 100% accurate I would hope not.

Eddy120876

join:2009-02-16

Bronx, NY 8 recommendations Eddy120876 Member Now with the Republican having all 3 branches You will never see anything on that board at all. First step kill net neutrality, next allow telcos to do what they want and remove any consumer protections because "business are always looking out for their customers " lol oh that was a good one LOL kucharsk

join:2001-03-30

Louisville, CO 6 recommendations kucharsk Member Horrific waste of taxpayer dollars The best reason for funding to have been killed is that this cost $300 million to begin with; absolutely shameful.



Certainly self-reporting by ISPs coupled with comments from subscribers could have generated the same data for about $299 million less:



1) ISPs provide data on coverage and pricing

2) Customers can update the ISP maps the same way they can submit errors to Google Maps



Done, and the crowd sourcing will keep the maps more accurate than ISP data alone would.



Any self-respecting group of interns would be able to get the site up over a summer program. VTarm

join:2015-01-25 5 recommendations VTarm Member My bicycle lacks a motor Karl, the map was designed to collect serviceability data at a census block to identify unserved and underserved areas for broadband stimulus spending. The RUS/ARRA stuff. To try and make sure the money would go toward the most underserved areas rather than where there was already an existing provider above the minimum defined broadband speed.



It wasn't intended to be for price shopping. Complaining that it lacked pricing data ignores its original mission. Fight for that moving forward if you want, but don't act like it was supposed to be the purpose all along. afn06011

join:2012-10-15

Florida 4 recommendations afn06011 Member AT&T serves swamps and pine trees Around here the wonderful broadband map shows that AT&T serves areas populated by swamps and pine trees. Areas with not a house, not a power-line, no infrastructure at all. But it does have xDSL by AT&T.

Anon463e0

@comcast.net 4 recommendations Anon463e0 Anon FCC Running Updated Broadband Map



»www.fcc.gov/maps/fixed-b ··· nt-data/ Just FYI, the FCC instead of the NTIA is running the broadband map now ... presumably with a much more reasonable budget. Its at: