Federal Communications Commission DA 23-285 DA 23-285 Released: April 3, 2023 BROADBAND DATA TASK FORCE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF TRAINING VIDEOS FOR MOBILE WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS RESPONDING TO BROADBAND DATA COLLECTION CHALLENGES WC Docket Nos. 19-195, 11-10 By this Public Notice, the Broadband Data Task Force announces the release of two tutorial videos to educate providers on how to prepare and submit responses to challenges to mobile wireless coverage data filed in the Broadband Data Collection (BDC). The first video provides an overview of the Commission’s rules for responding to a challenge, timelines for mobile service providers to respond to challenges, how a provider can demonstrate mobile coverage in an area, and types of evidence that may be used to rebut a challenge in different scenarios. It is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64lC-pOK3kM. The second video demonstrates how to access challenge data, concede or dispute a challenge, submit evidence, and track the status of challenges within the BDC system. It is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RusmxMXQto. Consumers and other stakeholders can use the updated FCC Speed Test app to challenge provider reported mobile availability. 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, 1164-65, para. 98 (2021) (Third Report and Order); Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection, WC Docket No. 19-195, Order, DA 22-241, at 5, para. 10 (WTB/OEA/OET 2022) (Mobile Technical Requirements Order); see also FCC, FCC Speed Test App FAQs, https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/fcc-speed-test-app-tip-sheet (last visited Mar. 28, 2023). Other apps may in the future be approved by the Office of Engineering and Technology for use in submitting challenge and crowdsource data. Mobile Technical Requirements Order at 5, para. 10; Broadband Data Task Force and Office of Engineering and Technology Announce Procedures for Third-Party Mobile Speed Test Applications Seeking Approval for Use in the FCC's Broadband Data Collection, WC Docket No. 19-195, ET Docket No. 22-152, Public Notice, DA 22-408 (OET 2022). When initiated by a user, the app can collect the necessary data metrics for challenges and submits them directly to the Commission. See generally FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, 2022 FCC Speed Test App Technical Description (2022), https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/2022_fcc_speed_test_app_technical_description.pdf. Governments and other entities may also use their own software and hardware to collect data for the challenge process so long as the data contain metrics that are substantially the same as those collected by the FCC Speed Test app. Mobile Technical Requirements Order at 5, para. 10; see generally Broadband Data Task Force Establishes Process for Entities to Use Their Own Software and Hardware to Collect On-The-Ground Mobile Speed Test Data as Part of the Broadband Data Collection, WC Docket No. 19-195, Public Notice, DA 22-962 (BDTF/WTB/OEA/OET 2022). The data required can be found in the data specifications for submitting on-the-ground mobile speed test data, which are available at https://us-fcc.app.box.com/v/bdc-mobile-speedtest-spec. Entities submitting data collected using their own software and hardware must submit a complete description of the methodology used to collect the data and substantiate the data and methodology through the certification of a qualified engineer or official, and must ensure the data meets the same metrics and parameters as that submitted by consumers. Id. Challenge speed test results submitted to the FCC by consumers, governmental, and other entities will be aggregated and, if a valid grouping of speed tests shows coverage is not available in a geographic area, will be used to create a challenge, which will be shared with the provider for response. Third Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd at 1167-68, para. 105; Mobile Technical Requirements Order at 6, 12, 19-22, paras. 12, 20, 31-35 (discussing aggregating speed tests), 30-35, paras. 50-56 (discussing the geographic, temporal, and testing thresholds that speed tests will need to meet to create a “cognizable” challenge). These training resources are the latest in the Commission’s efforts to implement the BDC challenge processes and ensure that consumers, governments, and service providers have the resources needed to help refine the accuracy of the National Broadband Map. Additional technical assistance resources related to the mobile wireless challenge process, including links to a comprehensive webinar, video tutorials, help articles, data specifications, and a BDC system user guide are also available at www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData/Help. Requests for technical support may also be submitted using the “Get Help” link available on that page. For further information regarding this Public Notice, please contact Will Holloway, William.Holloway@fcc.gov. For media inquiries please contact Anne Veigle, Anne.Veigle@fcc.gov. -FCC- 2