Overview of Bulk Fixed Availability Challenges

As part of the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC), service providers, governments, and other entities may file bulk challenges in response to the fixed broadband availability data reported by broadband providers and published on the FCC’s National Broadband Map.  Entities can also submit individual challenges using the “Availability Challenge” form on the Broadband Map.

Submitting Bulk Challenges

All entities submitting bulk fixed availability challenges must upload data files in the BDC system.  More information about how to prepare these files is discussed in a separate article, “How to Format Bulk Fixed Challenge or Crowdsource Data.”  The data files must identify the locations and provider being challenged and the reason for the challenge, using one of the reasons listed below:  

• Provider can connect the location but not within 10 business days of a request.

• Provider did not install the service at the agreed-upon time.

• Provider requested more than the standard installation fee to connect the location.

• Provider does not offer any service at this location, including with the selected technology.

• Provider does not offer the selected technology for purchase at, or reported the wrong technology for, this location.

• The reported maximum advertised speeds are not available for purchase at this location from this provider and technology.

• No wireless or satellite signal is available at the location.

• Provider needs to construct new, non-standard equipment to connect the location (satellite/ fixed wireless only).

Bulk Fixed Availability Challenge Methodology

Bulk challengers must enter information, in a web form in the BDC system, about the methodology used to collect the bulk fixed availability challenge information.  There are three options:

1. Knowledge of Infrastructure. This knowledge could be based on, for example, local building permit records, rights-of-way records, franchise agreements, or an on-the-ground examination of broadband infrastructure in a particular structure.  Filers must upload a file that contains evidence to support the information in the fixed availability challenge.
2. Information Collected from Individual Consumers. This option would be based on information collected from individual consumers about the broadband services available, and not available, to them. Contact details must be provided for each individual consumer whose information is used in a challenge made using this method.
3. Any methodology not based on the first two options. With this option, contact details must be provided for the individual associated with each challenge.  Note that the results of fixed speed tests cannot be used as a methodology for fixed availability challenges.  Speed test data on fixed broadband services should be submitted as bulk crowdsource data.

The fields that must be entered in the web form are listed in the table below.  Note that if methodology is “Information Collected from Individual Consumers” or “Other,” then the contact information fields listed below are not collected via this form but will be collected in the upload file.