FCC Broadband Data Collection - News Update
FCC Announces Release Of Preliminary Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric – Now Available To Fixed Broadband Service Providers
April 14, 2022 – The FCC’s Broadband Data Task Force has announced that a preliminary version of the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric is now available. Fixed broadband service providers only can access the preliminary version of the Fabric to begin preparing for their broadband availability data submissions under the FCC’s new Broadband Data Collection (BDC). The Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric is a common dataset of all locations in the U.S. where fixed broadband internet access service can be installed, and is a key component of the BDC.
Access to the preliminary Fabric, however, is available for those fixed broadband service providers that have made FCC Form 477 filings in the past. They must execute a license agreement with the Fabric’s creator, CostQuest, in order to access the data. According to the Public Notice, CostQuest will contact, via email, “the certifying individual of each June 2021 Form 477 filing with fixed broadband deployment, requesting that the recipient visit CostQuest’s user support help desk to (1) create user credentials, (2) submit a license request form, and (3) execute the licensing agreement.”
In February 2022, the FCC announced it will accept BDC broadband availability data from facilities-based providers of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service beginning June 30, 2022, to September 1, 2022. Submissions must show a provider’s broadband availability data as of June 30, 2022.
In the Public Notice announcing the preliminary Fabric, the Broadband Data Task Force also provides further details on the Fabric and information on how fixed broadband providers should prepare their BDC filings, including the following:
(1) information for providers of fixed broadband service on how to access the preliminary Fabric;
(2) identification of data sources used in, and elements of, the Fabric;
(3) confirmation that the Fabric will identify broadband serviceable locations using a unique, FCC-issued identifier (Location ID), a set of latitude/longitude coordinates within the boundaries of each structure, and, where feasible, a street address; and
(4) confirmation that fixed broadband providers that do not use availability polygons must submit their broadband availability data using the unique Location IDs in the Fabric.
Broadband Data Collection: FCC Issues Guidance For State, Local, And Tribal Governmental Entities Submitting Verified Broadband Availability Data
April 14, 2022 – The FCC’s Broadband Data Task Force has released details on the procedures for state, local, and Tribal governmental entities to submit verified broadband availability data through the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) system. Specifically, the Public Notice provides the following further details:
(1) the system and process the FCC will use to authenticate entities purporting to file on behalf of state, local, or Tribal governmental entities; and
(2) the procedures for identifying state, local, and Tribal governmental entities with primary responsibility for mapping or tracking broadband internet access service coverage within their jurisdictions.
As part of the new BDC, the FCC will collect verified data for use in the new BDC broadband availability maps from State, local, and Tribal governmental entities that are primarily responsible for mapping or tracking broadband internet access service coverage in their respective areas. In the Digital Opportunity Data Collection Second Report and Order, the FCC stated it “will treat data verified by the governmental entity that is primarily responsible for mapping or tracking coverage as primary availability data for use in the coverage maps on par with the availability data submitted by providers in their biannual BDC filings, and later described how coverage data from governmental entities will be considered “verified” when they bear certain indicia of credibility.
The FC will accept broadband availability data from facilities-based providers of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service beginning June 30, 2022, to September 1, 2022. These BDC submissions must show a provider’s broadband availability data as of June 30, 2022. The Public Notice guidance is intended to give state, local, and Tribal governmental entities that intend to submit verified broadband availability data enough time to prepare prior to the June 30, 2022 opening of the BDC filing window.
Broadband Data Collection: FCC Issues Guidance For Mobile Speed Test Applications
April 14, 2022 – The FCC’s Broadband Data Task Force and Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) have announced procedures for submitting proposals for mobile speed test applications that will be used in collecting and submitting mobile broadband network performance data as part of the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Specific technical guidance regarding how third-party app developers may present supporting information and other documentation as part of their proposals is included in Appendix A to the Public Notice and OET Bulletin 75, Broadband Data Collection Program: Third-Party Speed Test Mobile Application Approval Process Guidance.
Third-party mobile speed test applications will be used for the collection and submission of mobile broadband challenge data, and also could eventually be used to collect crowdsourced broadband availability data. While mobile speed test application data will be used to ensure consumers’ challenge data meet necessary reporting requirements, crowdsourced data would be used to “identify individual instances or patterns of potentially inaccurate or incomplete deployment or availability data that warrant further investigation or review.”
Third-party app developers seeking OET approval must submit a separate proposal for iOS and Android operating systems. Developers may begin submitting their proposals to OET for review and approval. OET has stated it “will endeavor to complete its review of proposals received on or before June 9, 2022 in advance of the FCC’s publication of the initial versions of the broadband availability maps required under the Broadband DATA Act.”
FCC Releases Data Specification Guidance For The Upcoming Broadband Data Collection
March 4, 2022 – The FCC’s Broadband Data Task Force and Office of Economics and Analytics have published data specifications for the FCC’s new Broadband Data Collection (BDC). The information provides guidance for fixed and mobile broadband providers on how to prepare and format subscription, availability, and other broadband deployment data for submission into the FCC’s BDC system.
In February 2022, the FCC announced it will begin accepting broadband availability data filed pursuant to the new BDC rules and procedures on June 30, 2022. All facilities-based providers of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service must submit broadband availability data as of June 30, 2022, to the BDC online filing system no later than September 1, 2022. The FCC’s new BDC program is an improved effort to collect geospatial broadband deployment data from broadband providers, as well as crowdsourced data to challenge the accuracy of the submitted data. Additional information on the BDC data specifications are available on the FCC’s BDC website
GAO Denies LightBox Challenge Of FCC Broadband Mapping Fabric Contract Award
March 1, 2022 – The U.S. Government Accountability Office has denied a bid protest filed by LightBox Parent, LP challenging the FCC’s decision to award a $44.9 million contract to CostQuest Associates Inc. to create a Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric. After LightBox filed its challenge, the FCC was required to halt its work on the Fabric and give the GAO 100 days to issue a decision on the protest. Now that GAO has issued a denial, the FCC can restart its work with CostQuest on the further development and implementation of the Fabric.
The FCC released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to create the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric on June 1, 2021, with responses due July 1, 2021. However, a pre-award protest was filed with Government Accountability Office following the RFP response deadline, which forced the FCC to issue a revised RFP on August 13, 2021. Revised proposals were due August 26, 2021. The $44.9 million contract to develop the Fabric was then ultimately awarded on November 9, 2021, to CostQuest. LightBox, who also submitted a proposal in response to the Fabric RFP, filed its bid protest challenging the FCC’s decision pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation process on November 29, 2021.
The “Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric” will be a common dataset of all locations in the U.S. where fixed broadband internet access service can be installed, and is a key component of the FCC’s new Broadband Data Collection program. Broadband service providers will provide the FCC with granular and detailed coverage data which will be layered on top of the Fabric, thereby giving the FCC an accurate picture of broadband coverage in the U.S. and creating a more accurate national broadband map.
The FCC recently announced that it will begin accepting broadband availability data filed pursuant to the FCC’s new Broadband Data Collection (BDC) rules and procedures on June 30, 2022. All facilities-based providers of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service must submit broadband availability data as of June 30, 2022, to the BDC online filing system no later than September 1, 2022.
Broadband Data Collection – FCC To Start Accepting Filings On June 30, 2022 – Submissions Due No Later Than September 1, 2022
February 22, 2022 – The FCC has announced that it will begin accepting broadband availability data filed pursuant to the FCC’s new Broadband Data Collection (BDC) rules and procedures on June 30, 2022. All facilities-based providers of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service must submit broadband availability data as of June 30, 2022, to the BDC online filing system no later than September 1, 2022. The FCC’s new BDC program is an improved effort to collect geospatial broadband deployment data from broadband providers, as well as crowdsourced data to challenge the accuracy of the submitted data. Broadband providers will submit granular coverage maps (polygons) showing the locations where they currently provide broadband service or could provide service within 10 business days of receiving a request for service. Data will include service to residential and business locations, speed, and latency. This deployment data must conform to FCC-adopted “buffer” distances – specific network facility distances from aggregation points based on the type of technology used. Data submissions must eventually conform to the forthcoming Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, which is a common dataset that defines all locations that need and can receive broadband service in the U.S. Broadband providers must have a corporate officer and qualified engineer certify the accuracy of their submitted data. In a future Public Notice, the FCC will provide additional information for filers, including data specifications on how to prepare their data for submission in the BDC system.
