National Broadband Map Fact Sheet FACT SHEET: National Broadband Map On November 18, 2022, the FCC released the pre-production draft of the National Broadband Map. The National Broadband Map displays where internet services are and are not available across the country. The map is the first release in an ongoing, iterative process that will depend on data submitted by providers, challenges from third parties and the public, and verifications and audits by the FCC, which together will continually improve and refine the broadband availability data relied upon by the FCC, other government agencies, and the public, as required by the Broadband DATA Act. An accurate map will help identify the unserved and underserved communities most in need of funding for high-speed internet projects. What is the FCC National Broadband Map? The new National Broadband Map will be the most detailed data on broadband availability the FCC has ever collected or released. The map displays location level information about the mass-market internet services available across the United States, as reported by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to the FCC. The broadband availability data displayed on the map reflects services available as of June 30, 2022. To view the map, visit BroadbandMap.FCC.gov. · The Fixed Broadband Map shows the fiber, cable, DSL, satellite, or fixed wireless internet services available at each home or small business on the map. When you select a location, you can see which providers report making broadband service available at that location and the types of service or technologies and the maximum advertised download and upload speeds they each offer. · The Mobile Broadband Map shows 3G, 4G, and 5G coverage of each mobile provider in the area displayed. The coverage areas reflect where consumers should be able to connect to the mobile network when outdoors or in a moving vehicle; the map does not show indoor coverage. The map also allows users to compare mobile wireless coverage reported by different mobile service providers. What are the points on the map? Individual location points on the map identify buildings or structures – such as a home, apartment building, or small business – where internet access services are, or could be, available. These location points are part of a dataset called the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric). Gray location points represent buildings or structures that are likely to subscribe to enterprise or commercial-grade service rather than mass-market broadband services. Who can help improve the map? Consumers, state, local, and Tribal governmental entities, and other stakeholders may submit challenges to help verify the information submitted by ISPs. When do challenges start? · With the release of the draft map, challenges to fixed and mobile broadband availability data, as well as individual consumer Fabric location challenges, will be accepted.  These challenge processes will run on a rolling, on-going basis.  · On September 12, 2022, the FCC began accepting bulk challenges to the Fabric from providers and state, local, and Tribal governments.  What can be challenged? Fabric location data, fixed availability data, and/or mobile availability data can all be challenged. Availability Challenges Individuals can easily submit fixed availability challenges using the map interface. Entities, such as state, local and Tribal governments, service providers, and other stakeholders, can also submit “bulk” challenges to the fixed broadband availability data using the BDC system. Additionally, entities may submit bulk crowdsource data, which the Commission may use to verify and supplement the fixed broadband availability data published on the National Broadband Map. For both individual and bulk availability challenges, providers must review and either concede or rebut a challenge.  The provider is expected to communicate and work directly with the challenger to resolve any challenges that it does not initially concede.  If a provider either concedes a challenge or fails to rebut it, the challenged services will no longer show as available at that location on the National Broadband Map.  Location Fabric Challenges The Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric is a common dataset of all locations in the United States where mass-market fixed broadband internet access service is or can be installed. This location data serves as the foundation for the fixed availability data displayed on the National Broadband Map. The public can now submit challenges to the information associated with locations on the map, such as updating an address or changing the building on the property that is the serviceable location. The map also allows users to request to add a missing location. Mobile Coverage Challenges Consumers need to submit on-the-ground network performance data (i.e., speed test data) collected using the FCC Speed Test App as evidence to support mobile challenges. Governments, mobile broadband service providers, and other third parties can also submit bulk mobile availability challenge data collected using their own hardware and software, so long as the data includes a defined set of metrics and they submit a complete description of the methodology used to collect their data and substantiate it through the certification of a qualified engineer or official. For more information on the speed test process, see https://www.fcc.gov/document/broadband-data-collection-bulk-mobile-speed-test-submissions-process. Mobile challenge speed test results submitted to the FCC will be aggregated and analyzed to determine if there are a sufficient number of failed tests (those below the minimum speed parameters for 3G, 4G, and 5G) taken at different times of day and dispersed geographically, to create a “cognizable” challenge for a certain area. Such challenges will be sent to providers, and, to rebut a challenge, providers must submit on the-ground speed test data (or, in certain limited circumstances, data on the their cell towers and other infrastructure), so that the Commission can determine the outcome of the challenge. Important Links: BroadbandMap.FCC.gov FCC.gov/BroadbandData Help.bdc.fcc.gov