FCC is currently investigating internet providers over exaggerated coverage. This news is coming in as the Biden-led administration prepares $42.6 billion in increasing access to broadband.
FCC Is Currently Investigating Internet Providers Over Exaggerated Coverage
The federal communications commission at the moment is investigating whether the public has been misled by broadband internet providers in regard to their coverage areas.
As you should know, the agency has declined to put a name to the various service providers they are investigating or potentially exaggerating where they provide high-speed internet service, Bloomberg on Thursday reported. This is coming as the government prepares to give out $42.5 billion in subsidies for increasing internet access in rural and underserved areas, thus allocating from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that was passed back in late 2021.
The FCC Has Been Marking Places Covered By Service Providers on New Publicly Available Maps
The FCC has been for a time now marking places covered by service providers on new publicly available maps so that people can see if they should be able to get access to the internet where they reside. according to reports, the very first versions of the new apps were reportedly launched back in November. The agency however pledged to update them with data collected and sent by providers of internet and this is inclusive of carriers such as T-Mobile and Verizon.
Verizon and T-Mobile’s Statement about the Investigations
“Verizon shares the FCC’s goal of creating an accurate broadband map, and we have been careful to submit the information about our broadband availability that the FCC’s rules require,” a Verizon statement provided to CNET reads. “We continue to work closely with the FCC staff as it refines and improves the mapping process.”
“The FCC has not expressed a concern with our filings, which were submitted in June 2022 following the required guidelines,” a spokesperson for T-Mobile said.
CITA Notes That Its Members Have Submitted Maps
The trade organization that is representing the wireless industry, CITA likewise noted that its members have submitted maps that are based on data from June 2022 per the guidance of the FCC and that it was not aware of any form of investigation into those filings. “Providers are currently working closely and collaboratively with the FCC to provide updated filings from December of last year as part of a normal update cycle,” it stated in a statement.
FCC’s Response to Members of the Congress
FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in response to questions about the coverage map inaccuracies of the map from members of the congress said in a February 3 letter that “we have taken several steps to prevent systematic overreporting of coverage by broadband service providers.”
“In fact, we already have an investigation underway,” Rosenworcel wrote.
