FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable Joe Manchin United States Senate 306 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Manchin: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Jit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable James Lankford United States Senate 316 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Lankford: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable Maggie Hassan United States Senate 330 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Hassan: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, (jit V. Pai t( FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April26, 2019 The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito United States Senate 172 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Capito: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, itV. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFflCE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable Angus King United States Senate 133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator King: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, V. Pa FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable John N. Kennedy United States Senate 383 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Kennedy: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, jitV. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable Michael Bennet United States Senate 261 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Bennet: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, (jit V. Pa FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMIssIoN WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable Marsha Blackburn United States Senate B4OBDfrksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Blackburn: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. first, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely,  Lit (4jitV. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable Doug Jones United States Senate 326 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Jones: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, it V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable Amy Kiobuchar United States Senate 302 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Kiobuchar: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, ,JitV. Pa FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN April 26, 2019 The Honorable Tammy Baldwin United States Senate 709 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Baldwin: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not in order to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in need. That is why the Commission initiated two basic reforms to the collection of broadband data when I came into office. First, we initiated a new data collection for mobile broadband coverage as part of Phase II of the Mobility Fund (which included a robust challenge process). Second, we began a top-to- bottom review of the Form 477 process in order to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. In your letter, you ask whether a continuous public feedback mechanism will improve the Commission s broadband coverage maps and its Form 477 data. I believe it could. Indeed, as you may know, the Commission s Speed Test App is one way consumers can currently participate in collecting data about broadband deployment, and it has proven to be a useful tool for assessing service availability. I ve asked Commission staff to look into other ways to collect and use accurate data from many sources including consumers themselves to assemble a more reliable map. We are interested in developing methods for the submission of reliable, consumer-driven data in order to better inform the Commission s decision making in this area. We would be happy to receive any input you or your staff might have on how to establish and implement such methods. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide and look forward to continuing to collaborate on this issue. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely,