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FCC Broadband Map

broadbandmap.fcc.gov

11–20 of 67 posts

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#11
post #9

This is so much bullshit. Satellite coverage should not be counted, because that requires a clear view of the sky. My property and most others in this area are covered in forest, so those options are right out. My only options are terrestrial, where the highest listed speed is 10Mbps. It is not fair for my local ISP to compete against entities that cannot possibly serve the same address.

What prevents you putting a dish up on a pole/post to get a signal?

I would have to go 100 feet up just to get out of tree cover. My backyard has a stream that created a valley on either side. To get past the trees at the top of the little valley I’d have to go another 100 feet. If the coverage area was a 360 degree circle around my house I’d have less than 90 degrees of clear sky. If the leaves are on the trees it less than that.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#12

This is great but also not 100% accurate. My address shows nothing but my neighbor's address shows all the various other options in the area. My area also got fiber ~ 2 months ago and it's not shown on this map at all. But still could have used something like this each time I moved and had to figure out what providers were in a particular location.

Sometimes it doesn't match the address to the dot on the map. My father's house shows nothing in address search but if I click the dot on his house I see his options.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#13

This is great but also not 100% accurate. My address shows nothing but my neighbor's address shows all the various other options in the area. My area also got fiber ~ 2 months ago and it's not shown on this map at all. But still could have used something like this each time I moved and had to figure out what providers were in a particular location.

If I am remembering correctly, that is one of the goals of this map. Providers were lying or misrepresenting the serviced areas, and now the end user can challenge them on the service they say they are providing.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#14
post #7

Used to use some of this data for analyzing cellular service coverage. The info on cellular data (e.g., LTE) availability is provided by the cell providers and is usually... very optimistic. I'd assume the terrestrial fiber/cable/DSL data is more accurate, though?

Not really, up until the past year or so, the cable ISPs would count an area serviced if they could get one house per zip code. I think this is stricter now, but these maps will help keep them accountable if we update and flag incorrect listings.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#15
It's hard for me to take this data seriously when I enter an address that I know to be problematic for cellular coverage and receive "100% coverage" on the mobile broadband tab, and listed with carriers I know to have zero outdoor coverage at the location.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#16
post #6

In Wisconsin we have this map that I used heavily when searching for new apartments and house shopping. It has the ability to filter by wireline vs wireless and satellite, which is nice. https://maps.psc.wi.gov/apps/WisconsinBroadbandMap/

I wish datasets like this were more integrated into Zillow and friends; being able to see at a glance what the neighborhood is wired for would be quite nice.

Often a few blocks can be the difference between DSL and gig fiber.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#17
post #11
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What prevents you putting a dish up on a pole/post to get a signal?

I would have to go 100 feet up just to get out of tree cover. My backyard has a stream that created a valley on either side. To get past the trees at the top of the little valley I’d have to go another 100 feet. If the coverage area was a 360 degree circle around my house I’d have less than 90 degrees of clear sky. If the leaves are on the trees it less than that.

Not related, but your place sounds beautiful

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#18
Find your address, see what it says.

If you see something that was NOT available, contact the provider and check if it is now available. If not, click "Challenge".

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#19

This is so much bullshit. Satellite coverage should not be counted, because that requires a clear view of the sky. My property and most others in this area are covered in forest, so those options are right out. My only options are terrestrial, where the highest listed speed is 10Mbps. It is not fair for my local ISP to compete against entities that cannot possibly serve the same address.

That's like saying it's bullshit because you have to put up a pole or dig a trench to get a wire from the road to your house to get fiber. Or that solar irradiance maps are bullshit because you have trees.

The provider gets the service to your property, its not their issue you have to modify your property to get it to your house and your equipment.

Cut some trees down and or put the receiver up higher if you want to get the service currently delivered to the treetops on your property.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#20

It's hard for me to take this data seriously when I enter an address that I know to be problematic for cellular coverage and receive "100% coverage" on the mobile broadband tab, and listed with carriers I know to have zero outdoor coverage at the location.

Same. This map isn’t accurate. Areas I know have no cell phone coverage are marked as 100% covered. Areas I know that don’t have cable broadband show 100% covered. It’s complete BS.
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