Vt. Seeks 30 More Days for National Map Challenges

Extend the Jan. 13 deadline for challenging the FCC’s national broadband map for 30 days, said the Vermont Community Broadband Board and the state’s congressional delegation Tuesday. The map will be used to determine broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) support allocations beyond the minimum $100 million each state will receive. The FCC map didn’t include 22% of addresses in the Vermont Public Service Department database, the Vermont groups said. “There are also many addresses that are marked served that are actually not served and/or have poor service. This could have significant impact on the amount of funding that Vermont receives.” NTIA should release the minimum $100 million state allocation quickly, they said. The federal government is evaluating multiple states’ concerns about the imminent challenge deadline, NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson said Tuesday (see 2212200060).