NRECA Lobbies Starks Aide on Broadband Map Challenge Process

The FCC's national broadband maps "still do not possess the data level necessary to accurately guide where federal funds should be targeted," the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) told an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. NRECA suggested that the FCC amend its rules to "allow submission of individual speed tests by consumers" to challenge high-speed wireline broadband availability or "objective third party testing of technological capability," according to an ex parte filing Friday in docket 19-195. The group also urged that the commission adopt a 100/100 Mbps benchmark for broadband speeds and consider increasing the long-term benchmark to 1 Gbps symmetrical service.