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The Commission has long recognized that precise, granular data on the availability of fixed and mobile broadband are vital to bringing digital opportunity to all Americans, no matter where they live, work, or travel. 

On March 23, 2020, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (Broadband DATA Act) was signed into law requiring the Commission to create a new set of broadband availability maps. Among other things, the Broadband DATA Act requires the Commission to collect standardized, granular data on the availability and quality of both fixed and mobile broadband Internet access services, to create a common dataset of all locations where fixed broadband Internet access service can be installed (the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric or Fabric), and to create publicly available coverage maps. The Act further requires the Commission to establish processes for members of the public and other entities to (1) provide verified data for use in the coverage maps; (2) challenge the coverage maps, the broadband availability data submitted by broadband Internet access service providers (providers), and the Fabric; and (3) submit specific crowdsource information about the development and availability of broadband service. 

In July 2020, implementing the Broadband DATA Act and building off of an August 2019 Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that adopted rules for the collection and verification of improved, more precise data on both fixed   broadband availability. In January 2021, the Commission released a Third Report and Order that established new requirements for the BDC and took additional steps to implement the Broadband DATA Act. The   rules to specify which fixed and mobile providers are required to report broadband availability data and expanded the reporting and certification requirements for filing data in the BDC. It also adopted standards for collecting verified broadband data from state, local, and Tribal governmental entities and certain third parties, and for identifying locations that would be included in the Fabric. Importantly, in the Third Report and Order, the Commission also established processes for verifying the accuracy of provider-submitted data and the Fabric, including challenge processes which invite input from the public and other stakeholders in order to improve the accuracy of the maps. 

Implementing the Broadband DATA Act and these new rules, the Commission created a new data platform and system to collect and map availability data collected from over 2,500 providers and for consumers and other stakeholders to submit challenges to that data; established the Fabric dataset of locations upon which to overlay provider availability data; and established a dedicated help center to provide technical assistance to providers, consumers, and other stakeholders. 

In July 2021, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), and Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) released a Public Notice seeking comment on the technical requirements for the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsourcing processes required under the Broadband DATA Act for the new Broadband Data Collection (BDC). In March 2022, the Broadband Data Task Force (Task Force), WTB, OEA, and OET released a detailed order, technical appendix, rules, and technical data specifications setting forth technical requirements and specifications for the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsource processes required by the Act. 

To help facilitate the mobile challenge process, in April 2022, the Task Force and OET issued a Public Notice announcing the technical requirements and procedures for approving third-party mobile speed test procedures for use in collecting and submitting mobile network performance data as part of the BDC. To assist entities that choose to file mobile challenges in bulk, in September 2022 the Task Force and WTB established a process for entities to use their own software and hardware to collect on-the-ground mobile speed test data for use in the BDC mobile challenge process. 

Also in April 2022, the Task Force, WCB, WTB, OEA, and OET released a Public Notice providing details on the procedures for state, local, and Tribal governmental entities to submit verified availability data through the BDC system. 

To clarify the Commission’s rules for filing data in the BDC, in July 2022, WCB, WTB, OEA, and the Taskforce issued a Declaratory Ruling on certain aspects of a rule regarding the engineering certification in BDC filings and issued a limited waiver of the requirement that providers have an engineer certification their biannual BDC filings for the first three filing cycles of the BDC. 

On June 15, 2022, the FCC Enforcement Bureau issued an Enforcement Advisory reminding all facilities-based providers of their duty to timely file complete and accurate data in the BDC by September 1, 2022. 

In February 2022, the Commission announced that the initial filing window of the BDC would open on June 30, 2022, and that availability data as of June 30 were due no later than September 1, 2022. In September 2022, the Commission announced that as of September 12, 2022, state, local, and Tribal governments, service providers, and other entities may begin to file bulk challenges to location data in the Fabric.  

In November 2022, the Commission released a pre-production draft of its new National Broadband Map displaying version 1 of the Fabric overlayed with provider reported availability data  as of June 30, 2022. The new map was the most comprehensive, granular, and standardized data the Commission had ever published on broadband availability. 

With the launch of the pre-production draft map, the Commission began accepting challenges to provider reported availability data, as well as individual consumer challenges to the location data in the Fabric. To date, the mapping team has reviewed and processed more than 4 million availability challenges. Most of those challenges have already been resolved and the majority have led to updates in the data on the map showing where broadband is available.  

The Commission adopted an Order in December 2022, to sunset the Form 477 broadband deployment data collection and eliminate a largely duplicative requirement on providers. As a result, providers will no longer be required to submit Form 477 broadband deployment data, but must still submit broadband and voice subscription data using the FCC Form 477. To further streamline the FCC’s data collection efforts the BDC system allows filers to submit both their BDC data and 477 subscription data as a combined filing using a single interface. 

The Commission has long recognized that precise, granular data on the availability of fixed and mobile broadband are vital to bringing digital opportunity to all Americans, no matter where they live, work, or travel. 

On March 23, 2020, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (Broadband DATA Act) was signed into law requiring the Commission to create a new set of broadband availability maps. Among other things, the Broadband DATA Act requires the Commission to collect standardized, granular data on the availability and quality of both fixed and mobile broadband Internet access services, to create a common dataset of all locations where fixed broadband Internet access service can be installed (the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric or Fabric), and to create publicly available coverage maps. The Act further requires the Commission to establish processes for members of the public and other entities to (1) provide verified data for use in the coverage maps; (2) challenge the coverage maps, the broadband availability data submitted by broadband Internet access service providers (providers), and the Fabric; and (3) submit specific crowdsource information about the development and availability of broadband service. 

In July 2020, implementing the Broadband DATA Act and building off of an August 2019 Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that adopted rules for the collection and verification of improved, more precise data on both fixed and mobile broadband availability. In January 2021, the Commission released a Third Report and Order that established new requirements for the BDC and took additional steps to implement the Broadband DATA Act. The Commission adopted rules to specify which fixed and mobile providers are required to report broadband availability data and expanded the reporting and certification requirements for filing data in the BDC. It also adopted standards for collecting verified broadband data from state, local, and Tribal governmental entities and certain third parties, and for identifying locations that would be included in the Fabric. Importantly, in the Third Report and Order, the Commission also established processes for verifying the accuracy of provider-submitted data and the Fabric, including challenge processes which invite input from the public and other stakeholders in order to improve the accuracy of the maps. 

Implementing the Broadband DATA Act and these new rules, the Commission created a new data platform and system to collect and map availability data collected from over 2,500 providers and for consumers and other stakeholders to submit challenges to that data; established the Fabric dataset of locations upon which to overlay provider availability data; and established a dedicated help center to provide technical assistance to providers, consumers and other stakeholders. 

In July 2021, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), and Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) released a Public Notice seeking comment on the technical requirements for the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsourcing processes required under the Broadband DATA Act for the new Broadband Data Collection (BDC). In March 2022, the Broadband Data Task Force (Task Force), WTB, OEA, and OET released a detailed order, technical appendix, rules, and technical data specifications setting forth technical requirements and specifications for the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsource processes required by the Act. 

To help facilitate the mobile challenge process, in April 2022, the Task Force and OET issued a Public Notice announcing the technical requirements and procedures for approving third-party mobile speed test procedures for use in collecting and submitting mobile network performance data as part of the BDC. To assist entities that choose to file mobile challenges in bulk, in September 2022 the Task Force and WTB established a process for entities to use their own software and hardware to collect on-the-ground mobile speed test data for use in the BDC mobile challenge process. 

Also in April 2022, the Task Force, WCB, WTB, OEA, and OET released a Public Notice providing details on the procedures for state, local, and Tribal governmental entities to submit verified availability data through the BDC system. 

To clarify the Commission’s rules for filing data in the BDC, in July 2022, WCB, WTB, OEA, and the Taskforce issued a Declaratory Ruling on certain aspects of a rule regarding the engineering certification in BDC filings and issued a limited waiver of the requirement that providers have an engineer certification their biannual BDC filings for the first three filing cycles of the BDC. 

On June 15, 2022, the FCC Enforcement Bureau issued an Enforcement Advisory reminding all facilities-based providers of their duty to timely file complete and accurate data in the BDC by September 1, 2022. 

In February 2022, the Commission announced that the initial filing window of the BDC would open on June 30, 2022, and that availability data as of June 30 were due no later than September 1, 2022. In September 2022, the Commission announced that as of September 12, 2022, state, local, and Tribal governments, service providers, and other entities may begin to file bulk challenges to location data in the Fabric.  

In November 2022, the Commission released a pre-production draft of its new National Broadband Map displaying version 1 of the Fabric overlayed with provider reported availability data  as of June 30, 2022. The new map was the most comprehensive, granular, and standardized data the Commission had ever published on broadband availability. 

With the launch of the pre-production draft map, the Commission began accepting challenges to provider reported availability data, as well as individual consumer challenges to the location data in the Fabric. To date, the mapping team has reviewed and processed more than 4 million availability challenges. Most of those challenges have already been resolved and the majority have led to updates in the data on the map showing where broadband is available.  

The Commission adopted an Order in December 2022, to sunset the Form 477 broadband deployment data collection and eliminate a largely duplicative requirement on providers. As a result, providers will no longer be required to submit Form 477 broadband deployment data, but must still submit broadband and voice subscription data using the FCC Form 477. To further streamline the FCC’s data collection efforts the BDC system allows filers to submit both their BDC data and 477 subscription data as a combined filing using a single interface. 

The second version of the Fabric was made available to providers and other stakeholders in December 2022. This updated Fabric contained a net increase of more than one million new serviceable locations, as compared to the initial version. It also reflected the outcome of over 1 million location challenges. The second filing window of the BDC opened on January 3, 2023, and required all fixed and mobile providers to submit broadband availability data as of December 31, 2022, no later than March 1, 2023. On May 30, 2023,the National Broadband Map was updated to reflect availability data as of December 31, 2022, and version 2 of the Fabric. 

On July 3, 2023, the Commission announced the opening of the third filing window for broadband availability data as of June 30, 2023. The BDC will continue to collect updated availability data from providers every 6 months. Updates to the National Broadband Map will be iterative and ongoing. The challenge processes will also continue on an ongoing basis in order to allow the public to provide input and help improve the accuracy of the National Broadband Map.