Industry Groups Seek Minor Revisions to BDC Challenge Process

Industry groups welcomed the FCC's inquiry on improving its broadband data collection (BDC) process. The agency sought feedback as part of a report to Congress about data collection and whether tools are needed to improve the data's accuracy (see 2401190071). Comments were posted Tuesday in docket 19-195.

It's "essential for the BDC challenge process to provide a robust opportunity to resolve questions regarding the accuracy of location and broadband service availability data," said the alternative Connect America cost model (ACAM) Broadband Coalition. The group encouraged the FCC to modify the challenge process so that service providers can participate in it more efficiently. Current challenge categories are "either directly geared to use by consumers and for carriers are either difficult, infeasible, or require network information that is not readily or reasonably available," it said.

Similarly, NTCA raised concerns about current BDC challenge codes and the bulk availability challenge process. An accurate map and efficient challenge process can be achieved by "improving the information that is obtained upfront in support of availability claims," NTCA said, urging the FCC to apply its data specifications to "all fixed wireless submissions whether made via shape files or BSL lists." Don't let providers "recharacterize mobile service as fixed wireless service," said the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The group warned that some cellular service providers have "represented mobile 5G (and perhaps even 4G LTE) wireless service as fixed wireless service for the purposes of the national broadband map and the BDC challenge process."

The Minnesota Telecom Alliance raised concerns about the BDC data and maps being used to "determine whether the presence of alleged unsubsidized competitors requires the elimination or reduction of Universal Service Fund" support for certain high-cost rural areas. MTA said that polygon coverage maps "show only an alleged unsubsidized fixed wireless competitor’s theoretical potential signal coverage over a general area." It asked the FCC to require fixed wireless service providers using these types of maps to submit additional information about their actual service "if they wish to claim unsubsidized competitor status and to have their service availability assertions used as a basis for denying or reducing USF support for specific locations."

It's "now time to pressure test the accuracy of mobile broadband availability," said a coalition of rural wireless carriers: Carolina West Wireless, C Spire, Appalachian Wireless, Viaero Wireless, Nex-Tech Wireless, CellularOne, Union Wireless, UScellular and United Wireless Communications. The coalition encouraged the commission to ensure "statistically significant amount of mobile availability challenges and/or supplemental high-quality speed testing data are required to ensure that efforts such as the 5G Fund are targeted to rural areas lacking connectivity," the coalition said: "Without them, the commission risks leaving rural Americans behind." The group also sought more "granular data and reducing the burdens on participants."