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FCC Broadband Map

broadbandmap.fcc.gov

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Re: FCC Broadband Map

#61
post #51
post #42

Lots of comments are misunderstanding the point of the map and think it's supposed to be perfectly accurate. No, that's not at all the point. The point is to allow individuals and businesses to challenge telecom self-attestations of coverage that are likely suspect. So if e.g SpaceX says you're currently served by Starlink but it turns out Starlink is refusing you on their site until the middle of next year, you can…

We like to complain and not read the about page. "This map displays where Internet services are available across the United States, as reported by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to the FCC. The map will be updated continuously to improve its accuracy through a combination of FCC verification efforts, new data from Internet providers, updates to the location data, and—importantly—information from the public."

Arguably, the large federal government agency that we put lots of tax dollars into shouldn't be basing it's regulation on a map that requires significant donated time and effort, from large amounts of the public, to have any accuracy.

The reality is that this map and effort was purposely done in a stupid and ineffective way as part of an effort by certain (FCC and/or presidential) administrations to say "No we don't need any more regulation, look at this map, america has the best internet".

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#62
So I requested a quote from GeoLinks (bay area). They responded with a quote for business, to which I replied:

> Residential quote, please. [EOM]

They concluded:

> Thank you for contacting GeoLinks! We have received your inquiry regarding GeoLinks’ service in your area. Unfortunately, due to some data errors, the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection map does not accurately reflect GeoLinks’ service footprint. We are in the process of correcting the data provided to the FCC but it will take time for the map to be revised.

> We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and hope that you will consider GeoLinks in the future when service is available in your area.

Nice. Nowhere did I mention FCC; they must've felt the barrage of HN this AM it seems.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#63
It is incomplete and inaccurate. i.e. current service I have is not reported in the map, service drops we no longer use but still exist in the demarc are not reported. Perhaps one day it will be useful, but in the 6 locations I could use it for it was inadequate.

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solar doesn't deliver to a wooded property either, doesn't mean the solar maps are bullshit. You can cut trees down if you want satellite or solar, this is not impossible to do. You can dig a trench to run fiber from the road, but might be difficult if the ground has large boulders in it, you can run fiber on poles if you cut trees down to make room.

A solar map that marks areas with dense forest as having the same generation capacity as areas with open grasslands? Yeah, I would call that bullshit too.

Well guess I can't buy a empty lot in a forested area and use an irradiance map to calculate how much solar capacity I would have with my plans, nor can I lookup my Starlink coverage with the FCC map because according to you that would be bullshit due to the trees that I plan on clearing...

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#65
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We like to complain and not read the about page. "This map displays where Internet services are available across the United States, as reported by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to the FCC. The map will be updated continuously to improve its accuracy through a combination of FCC verification efforts, new data from Internet providers, updates to the location data, and—importantly—information from the public."

Arguably, the large federal government agency that we put lots of tax dollars into shouldn't be basing it's regulation on a map that requires significant donated time and effort, from large amounts of the public, to have any accuracy. The reality is that this map and effort was purposely done in a stupid and ineffective way as part of an effort by certain (FCC and/or presidential) administrations to say "No we don't…

> Arguably, the large federal government agency that we put lots of tax dollars into shouldn't be basing it's regulation on a map that requires significant donated time and effort, from large amounts of the public, to have any accuracy.

What's your estimate on how many dollars it would take for the FCC to annually and independently validate connectivity at every address?

Re: FCC Broadband Map

#67
post #42

Lots of comments are misunderstanding the point of the map and think it's supposed to be perfectly accurate. No, that's not at all the point. The point is to allow individuals and businesses to challenge telecom self-attestations of coverage that are likely suspect. So if e.g SpaceX says you're currently served by Starlink but it turns out Starlink is refusing you on their site until the middle of next year, you can…

Exactly this. I filed an FCC complaint regarding speeds at my house and got Spectrum off their ass and investigating. Our neighborhood is a new build with fiber instead of coax that should be getting 500mbit upload on their Gig plan but not all houses receive it, mine included. Finally spoke to a local supervisor yesterday after going through first line support for over a week and he noticed that people even on the same node receive it while I'm stuck at 35mbit upload so that's progress and hopefully a catalyst for getting it resolved finally.

It just looks sad right now: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/063d05b6-eae5-4534-99a3-f... -- that upload is pitiful for fiber.

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