FCC reports – fixed broadband deployment and CAF eligible areas

The FCC just released data based on their 477 forms. Here’s info on the forms (or form fillers) from the FCC…

  • All facilities-based broadband providers are required to file data with the FCC twice a year (Form 477) on where they offer Internet access service at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction. 
  • Fixed providers file lists of census blocks in which they can or do offer service to at least one location, with additional information about the service.*
  • Mobile providers file maps of their coverage areas for each broadband technology (e.g., EV-DO, HSPA, LTE).  See Mobile Deployment Data.

They released a list of census blocks eligible for Connect America Phase II support in states where price cap carriers accepted the statewide offers of model-based Connect America Phase II support. It’s a spreadsheet of eligible census tracts by state. It would be valuable if you had questions on a specific census tract or were able to visualize the tracts. It shows the high cost (HC) and extremely high cost (EHC) areas as well as the providers.

The FCC also released updated data on fixed broadband deployment as of June 30, 2016. You can download that dataset by state – and the data includes advertised speeds up and down. Here’s an important caveat from the site…

A provider that reports deployment of a particular technology and bandwidth in a census block may not necessarily offer that service everywhere in the block.  Accordingly, a list of providers deployed in a census block does not necessarily reflect the number of choices available to any particular household or business location in that block, and the number of such providers in the census block does not purport to measure competition.

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About Ann Treacy

Librarian who follows rural broadband in MN and good uses of new technology (blandinonbroadband.org), hosts a radio show on MN music (mostlyminnesota.com), supports people experiencing homelessness in Minnesota (elimstrongtowershelters.org) and helps with social justice issues through Women’s March MN.

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