NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: June 27, 2013 Mark Wigfield, 202-418-0253 E-mail: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov FCC MODERNIZES AND STREAMLINES BROADBAND & VOICE DATA COLLECTION Deployment Data Key to Connecting All Americans to Broadband Washington, D.C. – The FCC today unanimously voted to modernize and improve its collection of data about broadband and voice service in the U.S., while at the same time taking measures to streamline and reduce the burden on providers. These changes will improve the data the agency uses to effectuate policies and programs for expansion of access for all Americans to broadband and voice service – service that is essential for the creation of 21st Century jobs, improving education, and providing opportunities The Order initiates the most comprehensive collection of broadband deployment data by the FCC ever, which will be used to populate and update the National Broadband Map, a key resource on broadband deployment for consumers, policymakers, researchers, economists and others. Reliable and accurate deployment data are also critical to the expansion of broadband to consumers in unserved rural areas through the FCC’s Connect America Fund and universal service program, and for the FCC’s annual report to Congress on broadband availability. At the same time, the changes will streamline data reporting by industry and eliminate several unneeded collections. Since 2000, the FCC has collected data on broadband and voice subscribership, a rough indicator of adoption by consumers of these services. In 2010, the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration began collecting data about the physical deployment of networks to produce the National Broadband Map, in cooperation with the states and the FCC. Funding for NTIA’s collection is scheduled to end next year and the FCC is proud to build upon the NTIA’s excellent work and continue to collect data to populate the National Broadband Map. The new collection will improve and expand broadband and voice data, while simplifying the process for providers by: · Increasing consistency through creating a single, uniform format for deployment data, and replacing the current separate state-by-state voluntary collections under differing methodologies · Reducing the burden on providers by eliminating certain data collections, including the requirement to file speed data in tiers · Collecting fixed broadband deployment data by census block, and mobile broadband and mobile voice network coverage areas using a standard geographic information system software format · Obtaining mobile broadband deployment data by technology, minimum advertised speed, and spectrum band to help assess competition in the mobile wireless marketplace and mobile broadband availability to consumers · Receiving emergency contact information to expedite agency disaster response · Collecting company identification information to facilitate merger reviews, assess competition, and combat waste, fraud and abuse in universal service · Exploring development of an application that providers could use to automate their data- gathering, which would further reduce the burden of collection and improve the quality of the data Filing of this data is expected to begin in September 2014, reflecting the first six months of 2014. Wireline Competition Bureau Staff Contact: Chelsea Fallon at 202-418-7991 Action by the Commission June 27, 2013, by Second Report and Order (FCC 13-87). Acting Chairwoman Clyburn, Commissioners Rosenworcel and Pai with Acting Chairwoman Clyburn, Commissioners Rosenworcel and Pai issuing statements. -FCC- News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the Commission’s web site www.fcc.gov.