Federal Communications Commission	DA 22-696



DA 22-696
Released:  June 30, 2022

INAUGURAL FILING WINDOW FOR BROADBAND DATA COLLECTION HAS OPENED
FILERS MAY BEGIN SUBMITTING BROADBAND AVAILABILITY DATA

WC Docket Nos. 11-10 and 19-195

By this Public Notice, the Broadband Data Task Force (Task Force) announces the opening of the inaugural Broadband Data Collection (BDC) filing window.  Starting today, facilities-based broadband service providers may begin to file in the BDC system data that reflects where they make mass-market internet access service available as of June 30, 2022. Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program, WC Docket Nos. 19-195, 11-10, Third Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd 1126, 1130-31, 33-34, paras. 10-11 & n.42, 16-17 (2021).  Facilities-based broadband providers must have one or more end-user connections in service.  The Broadband DATA Act requires the Commission to collect broadband Internet access service data from each “provider of fixed or mobile broadband Internet access service.”  Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act, Pub. L. No. 116-130, 134 Stat. 228 (2020) (codified at 47 U.S.C. §§ 641-646) § 641(11).  See Broadband Data Task Force and Office of Economics and Analytics Announce Inaugural Broadband Data Collection Filing Dates, Public Notice, DA 22-182 (BDTF/OEA Feb. 22, 2022) (BDC Filing Window Public Notice).
  Such data must be filed no later than September 1, 2022. These as-of dates and filing deadlines were established by the Commission in the Second Order and Third Further Notice.  See Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program, WC Docket Nos. 19-195, 11-10, Second Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 35 FCC Rcd 7460, 7484, para. 55 (2020); see also BDC Filing Window PN. 
  Entities that choose to submit verified availability data in the inaugural filing window, such as authenticated state, local, and Tribal governmental entities primarily responsible for mapping or tracking broadband coverage in their areas, must also submit their data as of June 30, 2022, and no later than September 1, 2022. See 47 CFR § 1.7008(d)(2).  We describe our process for authenticating governmental entities primarily responsible for mapping or tracking broadband coverage in the Governmental Entity Public Notice.  Broadband Data Task Force Issues Guidance to State, Local, and Tribal Governmental Entities for Filing Verified Broadband Availability Data As Part of the Broadband Data Collection, WC Docket Nos. 19-195, 11-10, Public Notice, DA 22-417, at 3-4 (BDTF, WCB, WTB, OEA, OET Apr. 14, 2022) (Governmental Entity Public Notice).  The September 1, 2022 deadline applies only to submission of verified broadband availability data, and not to the submission of data intended to challenge the broadband availability data submitted by providers or the submission of crowdsource data.  
 
Filers should submit their data in the BDC system at https://bdc.fcc.gov/bdc.  The Commission hosted a webinar on June 29, 2022 to demonstrate for filers how to use the BDC system.  A recording of the webinar will be added to the tutorials available on the “Education” tab at https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData/resources.  More information on how to log in, navigate the BDC system, and submit data can be found in the detailed BDC System User Guide and related video tutorials, available at the online BDC Help Center at https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData/Help.  
Information about the categories of broadband providers that must file availability data, the entities that may also submit verified availability data, and what data must be filed can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData/filers.  We remind broadband providers that they must file broadband and voice availability and subscribership data as of June 30, 2022, in both the BDC system and the Form 477 filing interface.  
We encourage filers to submit their data as early as possible.  Entering and uploading their data early in the window will afford filers an opportunity to address any problems the BDC system identifies with their data and make any necessary corrections in advance of the deadline to assure that their submission is timely filed.  Failure to timely file required data in the new BDC system may lead to enforcement action and/or penalties as set forth in the Communications Act and other applicable laws. See BDC Filing Window Public Notice, at 10, para. 26; see also All Facilities-Based Broadband Internet Access Service Providers Must File Complete and Accurate Data in the Broadband Data Collection, WC Docket Nos. 19-195, 11-10, Enforcement Advisory, DA 22-639, at 2-3 (EB June 15, 2022).

For additional information and questions regarding the Broadband Data Collection please visit the BDC website at https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData.  

– FCC –