Providers of fixed broadband service must choose one format - either tabular (Location List) or polygon (Coverage Map) - to use for all of their fixed broadband availability data in each BDC filing.
If you choose the second option, polygon coverage maps, the data file(s) must contain GIS data with polygon geometries and associated data attributes. The data must be submitted in one of the following GIS data formats:
- ESRI Shapefile
- ESRI FileGDB
- GeoJSON
- GeoPackage
The required specifications for the data attribute table in the chosen GIS data file are shown below:
| Data Attribute Field | Data Type | Example | Description / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| providerid | Integer | 131425 |
A unique 6-digit code generated by the FCC that identifies each service provider. The list of Provider IDs is at https://us-fcc.box.com/v/bdcprovideridtable. |
| brandname | Text | Verizon | Name of the entity or service advertised or offered to consumers. |
| technology | Enumerated Integer | 50 |
Code for the technology used for the deployed service. Value must be one of the following codes: 10 - Copper Wire 40 - Coaxial Cable / HFC 50 - Optical Carrier / Fiber to the Premises 60 - Geostationary Satellite 61 - Non-geostationary Satellite 70 - Unlicensed Terrestrial Fixed Wireless 71 - Licensed Terrestrial Fixed Wireless 72 - Licensed-by-Rule Terrestrial Fixed Wireless 0 - Other See Fixed and Mobile Technology Codes for more information. |
| maxdown | Decimal | 100.0 |
Maximum advertised download speed offered in the service area in Mbps as an integer. The system will reject a file if the value in this field is not an integer; it will not round or truncate decimals. Service Below 25/3 Mbps Regarding the maximum advertised speeds of the service offered, if the download is less than 25 Mbps or the upload is less than 3 Mbps, but either the download or upload speed is at least 200 kbps, report using one of the following service tiers:
Service At or Above 25/3 Mbps If the service offered has a maximum advertised download speed that is greater than or equal to 25 Mbps and a maximum advertised upload speed that is greater than or equal to 3 Mbps, enter the value of the advertised download speed in Mbps as an integer. If no downstream speed is advertised for the service, enter the speed that end users should expect to receive. |
| maxup | Decimal | 10.0 |
Maximum advertised upload speed, in Mbps, associated with the maximum advertised download speed offered to the location. Enter the value as an integer. The system will reject a file if the value in this field is not an integer; it will not round or truncate decimals. Service Below 25/3 Mbps Regarding the maximum advertised speeds of the service offered, if the download is less than 25 Mbps or the upload is less than 3 Mbps, but either the download or upload speed is at least 200 kbps, report using one of the following service tiers:
Service At or Above 25/3 Mbps If the service offered has a maximum advertised upload speed that is greater than or equal to 3 Mbps paired with a maximum advertised download speed that is greater than or equal to 25 Mbps, enter the value of the advertised upload speed in Mbps as an integer. If no upstream speed is advertised for the service, enter the speed that end users should expect to receive. |
| lowlatency | Boolean Integer | 1 |
The offered service is low latency, defined as having round-trip latency of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds based on the 95th percentile of measurements. Value must be one of the following codes: 0 - False 1 - True |
| bizrescode | Enumerated String {1} | B |
Enumerated character identifying whether the service at the location is business-only, residential-only, or offered to both business and residential customers. Value must be one of the following codes: B - Business-only service R - Residential-only service X - Business and Residential service Polygons representing distinct residential and business service areas, each with different maximum advertised download and upload speeds, can overlap. |
Coverage polygons must only encompass the locations to which the provider either currently provides service or could perform a "standard broadband installation" as defined in the FCC's rules.
Each polygon should represent a unique combination of the following fields: providerid, brandname, technology, maxdown, maxup, lowlatency, and bizrescode.
- When a service provider reports multiple technologies (or when a governmental or third-party entity reports multiple technologies for an individual service provider), the coverage areas for the different technologies (such as DSL and fiber) can overlap.
- However, coverage areas for the same technology cannot overlap. If service is offered at different download and upload speeds using the same type of technology, the filer should report the highest speed offered (based on the guidance above). If service is offered at different maximum speeds in different areas, the filer must submit separate polygons representing the coverage areas of those different speeds, but the polygons must not overlap.