With the next version of the updated nationwide broadband map published on May 30, a review of the changes to availability and location data should provide a clearer picture as to how NTIA will use the map for the upcoming BEAD funding distribution.
Impact: The latest iteration of the map that includes availability data reported by providers as of year-end 2022, plus the results of challenges made by individual consumers, groups, and organizations to that information, shows 114 million broadband serviceable locations in the U.S. While not an apples-to-apples comparison, the FCC said its previous map counted 8.1 million census blocks as broadband-serviceable. NTIA plans to use the latest version to help determine additional funding allocations to states as part of the $42.5 billion federal BEAD program after each state receives its initial $100 million allocation. Because BEAD aims to get the country closer to universal broadband access, the map’s accuracy will be paramount both to how much money each state gets and to the program’s success.
Ahead of the release, FCC officials outlined the steps they took to make the map as accurate as possible. This included passing 4 million availability challenges on to providers to determine challenge accuracy so they could update coverage details to reflect more accurate information. Per FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who posted a blog entry timed to coincide with the release of the updated map, roughly three-quarters of those 4 million challenges have been resolved. NTIA was more specific in a blog post of its own and said 3.7 million challenges have been resolved so far. Rosenworcel also said the country has 8.3 million unserved broadband locations, although the FCC definition of unserved varies for that of NTIA. The FCC considers a location with fixed wireless speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps to be served whereas NTIA, with its emphasis on fiber connectivity as part of the BEAD program, does not. Unserved locations on the map increased by 330,000 (per the FCC) on the new map, an increase of 0.2% (per NTIA).
NTIA also defended the map’s accuracy by pointing out that a net of only 1 million new locations – approximately 1% of the total – ended up being added to the new version of the map despite the large number of challenges. That 1 million figure encompassed 3 million new locations added and 2 million removed. The agency, which said it’s on track to meet its planned funding distribution schedule, predicted before the map was released that future updates will also only see what it termed “relatively modest” changes. That means the impact on BEAD allocations will also be in the modest range. And with the FCC’s process for collecting and updating the data that feeds the map now in place, it’s projected the FCC will release a new version twice a year at the end of May or early June and then again in late November. The location fabric in which FCC vendor CostQuest maps out all broadband serviceable locations by state will also be updated twice a year.
NTIA also defended the map’s accuracy by pointing out that a net of only 1 million new locations – approximately 1% of the total – ended up being added to the new version of the map despite the large number of challenges. That 1 million figure encompassed 3 million new locations added and 2 million removed. The agency, which said it’s on track to meet its planned funding distribution schedule, predicted before the map was released that future updates will also only see what it termed “relatively modest” changes. That means the impact on BEAD allocations will also be in the modest range. And with the FCC’s process for collecting and updating the data that feeds the map now in place, it’s projected the FCC will release a new version twice a year at the end of May or early June and then again in late November. The location fabric in which FCC vendor CostQuest maps out all broadband serviceable locations by state will also be updated twice a year.
