Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s Response to Members of Congress Regarding the Commission’s Efforts to Develop an Iterative National Broadband Map

On December 22, 2022, members of the US Senate wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel urging the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to extend the deadline to submit location and availability challenges to the FCC’s broadband maps by at least 60 days, or until March 14, 2023. The rationale was that "an extension would improve the accuracy of the maps by allowing sufficient time for state and local governments, Tribal nations, and consumers to provide input and challenge the maps." On February 10, 2023, Chairwoman Rosenworcel responded to members of Congress clarifying that the January 13, 2023 date was not a deadline because the FCC continues to accept and resolve location and availability challenges so that they may be included in future iterations of the map. The FCC rules make clear that the agency will accept challenges to the Fabric and availability data on a rolling basis, at any time. Concering reported inaccuracies in the map, Chairmwoman Rosenworcel writes, "I plan on using every tool at the Commission’s disposal to correct the map and appreciate you highlighting areas where you believe widespread inaccuracies may exist. This includes enforcement action when providers do not comply with our rules when they file availability data and, to this end, we already have an enforcement investigation that is ongoing." She concludes, "The map we have is a work that is always in progress, just as Congress designed it to be in the Broadband DATA Act. I am confident that the BDC process we have established will help improve the map just as Congress envisioned."