Chairman Pai Letter to Sen Manchin on Broadband Mapping

On July 18, 2019, Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai saying that the FCC's broadband maps were "woefully inaccurate" and "hurting the economy of the people of West Virginia." On Oct 15, Chairman Pai responded, saying that the FCC adopted a report and order in Aug aimed at generating more granular and accurate broadband maps through the creation of the Digital Opportunity Data Collection. Chairman Pai said the FCC wants broadband providers to report where they actually offer service below the census-block level, and to include third-party input to ensure up­ to-date and accurate broadband deployment maps. He said these updated maps would be used to focus funding to expand broadband through future initiatives, such as the second phase of the proposed rural digital opportunity fund.