Coalition Seeks FCC Guidance on Broadband Map Challenge Process

A coalition of consumer advocacy groups sought FCC guidance on the fixed service challenge process for the new broadband availability maps. The FCC "must take a leadership role that coordinates the fragmented policies within the federal government and ongoing broadband data gathering efforts that are well underway in many communities across the country," the groups, which include Next Century Cities, Access Humboldt, the National Association of Counties, the National Broadband Mapping Coalition and the California Community Foundation, said in a letter posted Thursday in docket 19-195. They asked for local officials and consumers to have access to information on the "types of evidence and details allowable in a challenge submission" and on how the FCC will evaluate evidence when "the challenger’s evidence and provider’s evidence rely on different methodologies."