Next Update of FCC Broadband Map Likely Won’t be a Moment to Celebrate

The next update of the Federal Communications Commission broadband map, expected in late November or early December, is likely to have a considerable number of errors, according to sources familiar with the broadband data collection initiative on which the map will be based. The new map will be based on data collected from broadband providers. Those providers were required to enter broadband availability data on a per-location basis into an FCC-provided database. The database, created by a company contracted by the FCC, was designed to provide address and geolocation information (latitude and longitude) for every broadband serviceable location in the country. Therein lies the problem, as nearly 90% of rural broadband provider members of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association saw some locations missing in the FCC database, said Mike Romano, NTCA executive vice president. Another two-thirds of members saw extra locations, Romano noted. However, only challenges submitted by a certain date will be reflected in the second iteration of the FCC broadband map, the one everyone hopes will be correct. Though, the FCC just has not yet revealed that date.