In Nov 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $65 billion in funding toward broadband deployment and affordability. The bulk of that money — $42.5 billion — funds the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and the building of new infrastructure. While states can count on a minimum allocation of $100 million, the total they receive depends entirely on the needs of their unserved and underserved populations. But mapping those regions has been a major challenge.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its initial broadband maps in Nov 2022, giving states until January to present challenges. The final maps will inform BEAD’s initial distribution at the end of June, but some states are concerned. In March, Senators introduced [1] the Accurate Map for Broadband Investment Act to fix what they called “deeply flawed” FCC maps, but the bill would keep states from knowing the total amount they will receive for another seven months. This can make it hard for states anticipating large payouts to plan. It can also result in maps again becoming outdated another seven months down the line.
We need to remember the importance of the ambitious task we are undertaking: Closing the digital divide. Those without broadband access slip further behind in competitiveness and opportunities while the modern world advances at an increasing pace. Rather than getting everything perfect before we begin, let’s stick to the plan, get as close to perfect as possible within established timelines, and keep this process moving to use this historic investment in universal broadband most effectively.
The mapping problem
Since releasing the initial FCC maps, which depended largely on providers self-reporting, states have voiced serious concern about overreporting. As the deadline to challenge FCC maps approached in January, Senator Rosen of Nevada expressed disappointment [2] over the overstated coverage in her state's rural areas and requested a 60-day extension to the challenge period. In March, nine Maryland congressmen wrote the FCC a letter [3] urging them again to extend their deal for updating and improving state mapping data.
States concerned about the closed deadline for challenging FCC maps still disagree [4] with the number of broadband service locations (BSLs) identified in their state. They say multi-dwelling units are being counted as a single location, and only residential units are eligible for the tally. They say the challenge period offered an insufficient time frame to allow for the collection and analysis of data, and success put too big a burden on rallying public awareness and participation. They worry this overreporting could cut off funding opportunities in their states for areas that need it.
How some states found success
While some states are petitioning the FCC to avoid missing out on BEAD funding, others are taking matters into their own hands to ensure they don’t. When the FCC first released its national maps, the Colorado Broadband Office dropped everything [5] to address inaccuracies in its state’s data. Not only did they research and submit their own challenges on 13,000 missing locations, but they also sent out a massive public recruitment campaign. Through media, email, social media marketing, and a website [6] to facilitate individual data submissions, Colorado’s community involvement garnered the state an additional 42,000 serviceable BSLs to its federal map.
Louisiana’s state broadband office is looking to tackle mapping errors through its own state challenge process [7] as part of its BEAD plan to negotiate the best allocation of funds with the NTIA. Keith Hanson, the state’s former Chief Technology Officer, reprogrammed an inexpensive microcomputer, developed a tool [8] to detect WiFi signals, and deployed it across Shreveport, LA, attached to the city’s garbage trucks, using GPS to log location. While surveys can be slow and expensive, Hanson’s device enabled Shreveport to provide a detailed map of street-by-street coverage data in weeks. Together with Shreveport’s former Assistant Chief of Police, he also founded a white glove service to help other cities map their digital divide with his technology and establish served and underserved areas with greater accuracy.
The need for speed
The Accurate Map for Broadband Investment Act [9] would enable the BEAD program to kick off as scheduled by allowing for the initial release of 20% of each state’s allocation. However, after another seven months of challenging FCC maps, there may already be new changes. States might not uncover all cases of provider overreporting, and some areas will still get left behind. Broadband providers and affiliated businesses, large and small, public and private, are all awaiting this funding and setting aside resources in anticipation of its arrival. Under lengthy delays, their plans might collapse. Considering how long it took to scour the map of millions of square miles to get nearly-perfect data, another seven months is unlikely to be enough time to get it perfect.
Colorado Governor, Jared Polis, says he’s aiming for statewide broadband adoption of at least 99 percent by 2027 [10], not 100 percent because he understands that complete coverage will always be a moving target. Communities grow. Networks will expand. Maintaining updated FCC maps will be a permanent work in progress. State leaders and broadband offices should focus on establishing an internal challenge process and fine-tuning their own maps, looking to examples like Colorado and Louisiana for approaches they can adopt to their regions. We need to get as close to perfect as possible [11] by the next deadline and meet it so we can start dispensing the money and planning to deploy high-speed broadband to the people who need it most.
Most Americans already have broadband speeds and are rapidly ahead in digital abilities. Meanwhile, those in rural areas or unable to afford the same are stuck in an outmoded world, cut off from advancing opportunities in remote work, education, health care, and other technological advances. Our best chance of being successful depends on speed, and while that means the maps may not be perfect, they can be as good as they can get on time in order to move forward and use this historic investment in broadband wisely.
Sources:
- www.telecompetitor.com/broadband-map-bill-would-add-a-reallocation-process-to-bead-funding-program/
- www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/senators-send-letter-to-fcc-about-inaccurate-nevada-broadband-map-2706708/
- www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-push-fcc-for-improved-broadband-mapping-to-ensure-high-speed-internet-access-for-more-marylanders
- broadbandbreakfast.com/2023/04/bryan-darr-senators-move-to-fix-the-broadband-map-heres-how-you-can-submit-crowdsource-data/
- gcn.com/cloud-infrastructure/2023/04/inside-one-states-decade-long-effort-map-broadband-availability/385386/
- statescoop.com/colorado-broadband-map-challenges-increase-bead-prize/
- broadbandbreakfast.com/2023/05/overreporting-on-state-broadband-maps-could-hinder-spread-of-connectivity-to-communities/
- cities-today.com/shreveports-former-cto-launches-digital-divide-mapping-business/
- www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1162/text
- statescoop.com/colorado-broadband-map-challenges-increase-bead-prize/
- www.thefastmode.com/expert-opinion/28033-broadband-mapping-problems-are-finally-being-addressed
