I Date: June, 2023 I Full PDF can be downloaded here

What’s New!

FCC broadband map update adds 1 million new locations

Article by Lindsay Mckenzie of StateScoop

“…The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday released a much-anticipated update to its national broadband map – adding more than 1 million new locations to a document designed to give a full picture of high-speed internet availability across the United States.

About 330,000 of those new locations represent homes and businesses that currently lack access to broadband internet service, bringing the number of addresses nationwide without high-speed access to more than 8.3 million.

The revised FCC map, which now includes data collected through January, comes after states, local governments, tribal nations, internet carriers and consumers submitted more than 4 million challenges to the “pre-production draft” published last November, with about 3.7 million of those challenges resolved.

As a result of this challenge process, roughly 2 million locations — including sheds and other uninhabited buildings — were removed, while 3 million were added, leading to a net increase of roughly 1 million potential broadband access sites.

The updated FCC map comes as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration prepares to issue states their full allocations from the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment grant program. The NTIA, which plans to announce awards for every state by June 30, is using the map as the basis to distribute funds where they are most needed.

But, the agency noted in a blog Tuesday, the number of unserved locations on the map does not correlate directly to how much BEAD money a state will receive. Every state, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., stands to receive a minimum of $100 million.

“Today, the FCC is taking another step forward in its iterative effort to develop the best and most accurate broadband maps ever built in the United States. This is a big one,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote in a blog post Tuesday.

The changes to the map also came after FCC mapping experts met individually with representatives from every state and hosted more than 200 sessions with state, local and tribal governments, Rosenworcel wrote.

She also wrote that the FCC responded to more than 7,600 technical assistance requests and developed automated tools to check the veracity of connectivity data submitted by internet providers. The FCC intends to issue major updates to the map twice a year going forward…”

About Us

Who we are

ECC Technologies was incorporated in 1995 to provide technology and communications consulting services to Educational, Community, and Corporate (ECC) clients. This was at the time when the nation’s telecom- communications industry was changing drastically through deregulation.

For the past 20 years, ECC has provided technology and security consulting services to education, municipalities, government, and corporate clients.

ECC continues our mission to assist clients with the expansion of broadband and the implementation of technology and security solutions in communities to improve economic development, public safety, education, and health- care services.

Success Stories - Madison County NY Broadband Study

About

Madison County needed to address their broadband infrastructure needs. They realized that improvements were required to facilitate County growth and provide solutions for residents.

 Solution

ECC conducted a two-phased approach. Phase 1 involved a Fiber Optic and Coaxial Asset Inventory. This involved GIS mapping of current infrastructure from various sources: ISP data, FCC 477 data, and our team driving the roads to map data. Phase 2 involved a needs assessment. We utilized our BAAT program to survey, map, and analyze availability and adoption issues within the County.

 Outcome

A full-scale report depicting the entire picture of broadband infrastructure within Madison County down to the address level was produced. More specifically, Madison County came away with documented evidence of a lack of competition and diversity of infrastructure in the rural areas of the County.  Additionally, the County was made aware of the fact that populated areas typically had a choice of two providers or more. This tends to lead to the development and growth of businesses and communities.

 Furthermore, The BAAT report indicated that only 30% of those who had internet access at home were able to purchase the speed of service they needed. On top of this, only 15% felt they were receiving “good value”. The numbers continue to underline the importance of broadband when it comes to schoolwork; 69% of homes without internet reported students having difficulty completing homework.

Armed with this data, Madison County became positioned to pursue the next steps and future objectives to close the digital divide in an effective and efficient manner.