SHLB Coalition urges FCC to label anchor institutions as broadband serviceable locations

With just over a month remaining until the Federal Communications Commission's deadline for broadband map challenges, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition is raising concerns over how the map displays community anchor institutions (CAIs) and is asking the FCC to revise its process. According to an ex parte letter, representatives from SHLB recently met with members of the FCC's Broadband Data Task Force to discuss the fact that the FCC's broadband map automatically flags anchor institutions like schools and hospitals as being non-broadband serviceable locations (BSLs). This is because the FCC's data collection process only focuses on the availability of mass market broadband services. "The Commission has decided that because community anchor institutions generally subscribe to non-mass-market, enterprise-grade services, they would not be identified as BSLs in the initial version of the Fabric," according to SHLB. However, SHLB asserts that it is "factually incorrect" that all CAIs subscribe to non-mass-market services, noting that museums, churches, community centers and some libraries often purchase mass market broadband. "With the default being that all CAIs are flagged as non-BSL in the Fabric, we are concerned that broadband providers will not report on the availability of service at these locations, even if those locations subscribe to mass-market service," said SHLB. "As a result, we fear that such locations may not be adequately considered for future broadband funding allocations."