The FCC's Broadband Availability Maps Are a Joke We've long discussed how the FCC's broadband availability map is comically error prone, not only hallucinating competitors, but the speeds they're actually able to deliver. The map, which the FCC recently dusted off and re-launched without really fixing its core problems, also omits pricing data entirely. The accuracy and lack of price data stems from one core reason: ISPs fight tooth and nail to try and downplay coverage gaps and the overall lack of competition in the US broadband market, lest somebody try to actually do something about it.

And as it turns out, the map the FCC uses to determine which areas get subsidies for wireless deployment isn't much better. A coalition of Senators this week wrote a letter to FCC boss Ajit Pai (pdf), reiterating their concern that the agency's broadband maps be improved before the agency doles out $4.5 billion in rural broadband subsidies. Doling out funds to areas that already have service would not only waste money, it would harm regions of the country that actually need broadband service, they argue. A bipartisan group of 30 senators led by Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) urged the FCC to extend the window to challenge the accuracy of the FCC's map and ensure that the billions to be spent over the next decade go to the right regions. "Communities in our states that are not initially eligible or successfully challenged will be ineligible for up to $4.53 billion in support over the next 10 years, exacerbating the digital divide and denying fundamental economic and safety opportunities to rural communities," the Senators told the FCC. "With less than 100 days remaining and additional state outreach presentations not yet completed...challengers will struggle within the current timeframe to provide requisite information that will correct significant flaws in the current map." Ajit Pai has repeatedly and breathlessly insisted that one of his top priorities as chairman is to bridge the digital divide and expand broadband availability. But as the assault on net neutrality and other priorities make clear, Pai's actual actions are more often than not focused on one agenda: protecting large, incumbent ISP revenues from competition and disruption. Ajit Pai has repeatedly and breathlessly insisted that one of his top priorities as chairman is to bridge the digital divide and expand broadband availability. But as the assault on net neutrality and other priorities make clear, Pai's actual actions are more often than not focused on one agenda: protecting large, incumbent ISP revenues from competition and disruption.







News Jump WISPs Get CBRS Range As Great As Six Miles At 100 Mbps Speeds; Windstream Officially Exits Bankruptcy; + more news Charter Relaunches Free 60-day Internet And Wi-Fi Offer; NCTA: FCC Should Stick With 25/3 Speed Threshold; + more news Comcast Shuts Off Internet for Subs Who Were Sold Service Illegally; AT&T, Verizon Team To Stop T-Mobile 5G; + more news California Defends Its Net Neutrality Law; AT&T's Traffic Up 20% Despite Data Traffic Actually Being Down; + more news Are The Comcast-Charter X1 Talks Dead In The Water?; AT&T May Offer Phone Plans With Ads For Discounts; + more news Europe's Top Court: Net Neutrality Rules Bar Zero Rating; ViacomCBS To Rebrand CBS All Access As Paramount+; + more news Verizon To Buy Reseller TracFone For $7B; 5G Not The Competitive Threat To Cable Many Thought It Would Be; + more news MS.Wants Records From AT&T On $300M Project; Google Fiber Outages In Austin, Houston, Other Texan Cities; + more news States With The Biggest Decreases In Speed; AT&T Hopes You'll Forget Its Fight Against Accurate Maps; + more news AT&T's CEO Has A Familiar $olution To US Broadband Woes; EarthLink Files Suit Against Charter; + more news ---------------------- this week last week most discussed

Most recommended from 18 comments

Ostracus

join:2011-09-05

Henderson, KY 9 recommendations Ostracus Member SamDoesn'tKnow. quote: We've long discussed how the FCC's broadband availability map is comically error prone, not only hallucinating competitors, but the speeds they're actually able to deliver. Wasn't one of the points of SamKnows was the collection of real-life data? Wasn't one of the points of SamKnows was the collection of real-life data?

C0deZer0

Oc'D To Rhythm And Police

Premium Member

join:2001-10-03

Tempe, AZ 121.4 9.8

3 recommendations C0deZer0 Premium Member The maps are inaccurate? Gasp! Say it isn't so! Well, how else are they going to be updated? Oh wait, couldn't this be updated in the same manner as the census? I know that at least starts with semi regular polling of people.



Might just need something more regular to keep the numbers and options in order.

TIGERON

join:2008-03-11

Boston, MA 3 recommendations TIGERON Member Why can?t we call people and ask them if they can get internet? Talk directly to the populace instead of asking ISPs. tegelad

join:2002-09-18

Whitesboro, TX 3 recommendations tegelad Member I agree They are. When I looked for a new house it showed 4 providers of >25MB per second, and when I got there and actually dug in all that was available was one (Verizon) with 7/0.864. Every provider I talked to had no service, were over capacity, and the only thing that came somewhat close was T-mobile. at 20Mb burst.



Fast forward 3 years later ... it is the same, except now we have two smaller WISP providers of which I worked with one to implement a dedicated wireless link at a stupid silly price. Verizon > Frontier did up the performance per line to 10/1.2 Mb ..... but nothing more and the reliability had issues.

Anonb1ca4

@77.111.246.x 3 recommendations Anonb1ca4 Anon Pai extended time by 90 days for challenge of maps

»yallpolitics.com/2018/05 ··· tension/ U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today commended the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai for his support of a 90-day extension to the challenge process for the map of eligible areas for Mobility Fund Phase II support.



The FCC Chairman’s announcement of support for the 90-day extension came in response to legislation and a letter led by Wicker, Senator Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan.



The senators hoped the 90-day change would allow additional outreach to stakeholders, and give challengers time to assemble the necessary data to challenge the eligibility map in their area.



On Thursday, the FCC will be hosting a presentation regarding the Mobility Fund Challenge process. The meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson. I guess the letter got Pai's attention.Here is a link to Pai's letter responding to the Senate's letter to him: » www.wicker.senate.gov/pu ··· eltr.pdf

Anon9329e

@midco.net 3 recommendations Anon9329e Anon Make the People contact the FCC Wouldn't it be easier to ask who is underserved, have them contact FCC (database etc) have some grunts weed through these to determine who is actually not served? More users that request service, contact on those areas etc? sd70mac

Premium Member

join:2015-10-18

Woodstock, IL 2 recommendations sd70mac Premium Member Better than nothing Although the maps are definitely better than nothing, they have to be taken with plenty of salt, and they certainly need to be fixed before more money is spent on incumbent projects that aren't Fiber To The Premises.