Are you suffering from poor internet connection at home or work?
Now is the time to speak up, as the federal government aims to reach more places with faster broadband Internet service in New York and across the country.
New Yorkers and U.S. residents can research their estimated broadband Internet status and providers on the Federal Communications Commission’s draft broadband map released last fall. Residents can challenge the information on the map if something seems wrong with the level of services or providers shown there.
They have until Friday, Jan. 13, to have the best chance of making the corrections to the final version of the map this year, the agency said.
How are maps used?
The FCC’s maps are used to track what internet service is available and where. But until recently, these maps broke down neighborhoods and regions by census block.
The problem? This method was not very accurate and some streets, houses or buildings flew through the cracks. Additionally, broadband upgrade projects were often funded using these maps as a guide, which excluded some residents, especially in rural areas, from important broadband initiatives.
The FCC is now in the process of finalizing maps detailing internet services down to the address level. Both fixed broadband and mobile service maps will be available. The broadband map will be used to inform the allocation of federal funding for broadband projects in the summer of 2023.
But first, the agency needs your help.
How the challenge process works
Thanks to the Broadband DATA Act of 2020, the FCC implemented a “testing” process for its project maps where residents can point out where the broadband information listed on it is inaccurate.
Customers can submit a fixed broadband map challenge in one of two ways: a location issue or an availability issue.
With a location problem, they can flag when a point on the map lists the wrong address or has the wrong amount of units. They can flag when there are multiple addresses in a given location, such as a multi-family home.
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With availability issues, customers may dispute the providers and types of internet service listed at a particular address, or the speeds reported by those providers.
Customers can also submit mobile map challenges in the form of a speed test that shows the actual outdoor 3G, 4G or 5G mobile coverage at a specific address.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in December that the law “requires the FCC to use the challenge process to continually update the map so that it more accurately reflects the reality that consumers face.”
The agency should also collect this “availability” data every six months to ensure areas with spotty internet service are identified and addressed, he added.
“With each iteration, we’re getting closer and closer to a more accurate picture of where broadband is and isn’t,” Rosenworcel said.
Some lawmakers have asked the FCC to extend the initial recall period beyond Jan. 13, saying that with the holidays and outreach efforts, residents don’t have enough time to review the maps and submit concerns.
“Federal funds are available for rural broadband, and we need to make sure our communities get their fair share,” Representative Mark Molinaro, who represents the 19th Congressional District, which includes the Hudson Valley, Central New York and parts of the Southern Tier, said Thursday. “By extending the deadline for the FCC’s new National Broadband Map, we can ensure New York State’s rural communities have time to make their voices heard.”
How do I access Maps and submit a problem?
Maps can be found at broadbandmap.fcc.gov.
Enter your address in the search bar and you will get information about all internet provider, service and mobile service. From there, you can click on buttons labeled “location issue,” “availability issue,” or “mobile call.”
You can provide supporting documents for your case, such as correspondence with the provider, home address information, or other documents.
Maps and fixed broadband call forms can be accessed from desktop computers or mobile phones. You can take a mobile internet speed test through the FCC’s mobile app.