December 16, 2019
Mapping momentum: “Almost there…”
Background: Today, the full House of Representatives passed the bipartisan ‘Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act’ introduced by Reps. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Bob Latta (R-OH) and the ‘Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act’ introduced by Reps. Donald McEachin (D-VA) and Billy Long (R-MO) to improve the accuracy of FCC nationwide broadband data maps.
The following statement can be attributed to Jonathan Spalter, president and CEO of USTelecom:
“We’re closer than ever to fixing our outdated broadband maps and getting a clearer picture of who has — and who still lacks — 21st century broadband connectivity. This is a major step forward by the House and requires the adoption of a state-of-the-art technology and data driven approach to modernizing the national broadband coverage maps. Now it’s off to the Senate and soon enough future federal broadband spending in rural America will be based — finally — on the most accurate and granular map we’ve ever had. Almost there.”
Representing a major evolution in the way broadband service is mapped in the United States, USTelecom and a diverse consortium of broadband companies and associations created the Broadband Mapping Initiative in March 2019 to more accurately map broadband deployment nationwide. In August, USTelecom released results of its mapping pilot program, revealing as many as 38 percent of total rural locations (445,000+) in census blocks reported as ‘served’ with current FCC Form 477 are actually unserved by any pilot participants. Learn more HERE.