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FCC Soliciting Public Input on a New Draft of the National Broadband Map

By Rachel Jewett | November 21, 2022
The FCC's searchable national broadband map

The FCC’s searchable national broadband map. https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/

The FCC released a draft of its new map of U.S. broadband availability, with the option for consumers to challenge the data. 

The map shows the fiber, cable, DSL, satellite, or fixed wireless internet services available at each home or small business, including what providers say they can offer service, and what type of technologies and download and upload speeds. The FCC is encouraging the public to check the map and report if their experience does not match what is shown. It also launched an updated version of the FCC Speed Test App so consumers can test the performance of their mobile networks compared to provider-reported speeds. 

The commission says this is the most detailed data on broadband availability the FCC has ever collected or released. Previous versions of federal broadband maps collected data at the census block level and did not have location-specific information.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said this transparency will put market pressure on ISPs to improve their coverage, and this is the first step in an effort to improve data. 

“Today is an important milestone in our effort to help everyone, everywhere get specific information about what broadband options are available for their homes, and pinpointing places in the country where communities do not have the service they need,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “By painting a more accurate picture of where broadband is and is not, local, state, and federal partners can better work together to ensure no one is left on the wrong side of the digital divide.”