Broadband service providers and other interested entities are now able to begin submitting challenges to the FCC’s current version of the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (“Fabric”). Challenges may be submitted electronically and will be determined on a rolling basis, with no end date. At some point prior to December 31, 2022, the FCC will create and release an updated version of the Fabric based on accepted challenges for use in the next biannual reporting of fixed broadband availability in the Broadband Data Collection (“BDC”).

Because the evolving Fabric will serve as the foundation for the BDC fixed availability maps, service providers are encouraged to review the Fabric to assess whether corrections are needed. Future funding will be determined based on where broadband service is documented as available or not, highlighting the need to ensure the Fabric is accurate. The seven types of permitted challenges include: 1) missing broadband serviceable location; 2) incorrect location primary address; 3) incorrect location unit count; 4) incorrect location building type code; 5) instances where a location is not within footprint of the correct building; 6) instances in which a location is not broadband serviceable; and 7) instances where service providers would like to add supplemental addresses. More details on the data specifications for the Bulk Fabric Challenge Data may be found on the FCC website at: https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData/resources.

Please contact Robin Tuttle at [email protected] or Dee Herman at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the Fabric bulk challenge process or if you would like assistance in filing a challenge.