Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released updated broadband service coverage maps. These maps are used when evaluating locations for grant money. It is important that the maps be accurate so internet service providers (ISP) and individuals can accurately identify unserved or underserved areas.
It was for this reason that Adam Thorp with the Missouri Office of Economic Development held a virtual meeting on Monday, in an attempt to educate the public on the system used to challenge any inaccurate coverage map entries.
During a recent Connecting All Missourians meeting held by the Office of Economic Development and the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, coverage maps were shown outlining massive holes in broadband service in several regional counties including Dent. According to data presented by Thorp on Monday, Dent County has 2,805 unserved locations. Grants and service providers are reportedly on the way to the area, but ISP often have to make special considerations or install special equipment to provide service to many remote locations in the region. Some areas require more grant money than others in order to get service. Some areas need coverage improvements worse than others. It is for these reasons it is vital the FCC maps are accurate. Thorp says the challenge process is important to accurately apportion grant money to areas that need it.
“It’s our way of improving these maps that were released by the FCC in mid-November, and our way of making sure that we get the allocation that we deserve in relationship to these maps,” said Thorp. “We’re asking people to log on to this map to make sure that their home or business is identified as a location that needs help getting broadband.”
Thorp said that the coverage maps often look more optimistic than the reality of the situation. This is because cellular providers and satellite ISP such as HughesNet and StarLink advertise a nationwide coverage area. The reality is more complicated. According to Thorp, StarLink is not currently signing up new customers in the area, so despite wide coverage, the service is not actually available to customers. In some locations, such as those with an obscured view of the sky, under trees or down in a valley, satellite internet can be just as unreliable and expensive as other available options. The map can be configured to omit satellite and cellular ISP data.
Thorp says the map has many locations that are inaccurately labeled. For example, a location may say there’s a building that needs service where there isn’t one, or it might say there’s no need for service in a location that does have a building. Or, the map might say that a particular ISP will serve a location, but if the customer attempts to get service, they’ll find out that the location cannot be served. Some locations are missing from the map entirely.
These are situations in which the public is asked to challenge the FCC maps. The map can be viewed at bit.ly/mo_fcc.
Simply type an address in to the map, and it will show all relevant connectivity information about the property, including available service type, speed, providers, and more. If any of the information is incorrect, it is easy to challenge specifics on the map.
Some providers will serve a location, but might advertise speeds that the customer is not able to receive. In these cases, the map tool will direct users to submit a consumer complaint.
When a challenge is received, it will be vetted for accuracy by the FCC, and acted upon accordingly. In cases where a location is challenged for coverage claims, the ISP in question will have an opportunity to rebut the information before the FCC reviews it.
Challenges filed by Jan 13, 2023 will be factored in to the grant allocation that the State of Missouri receives for broadband development as part of the federal $42.45b Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.
