How Government Entities Can Access the Location Fabric

To participate in the BEAD challenge process for a state or territory, you will need an NTIA license. Learn more about how to obtain BEAD related Fabric licenses here: https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/policies/CostQuest-Licensing

Governmental entities may access the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric) for the counties in their jurisdiction by following the steps outlined below.

Broadband service providers and other third-party organizations may also execute a license to access the Fabric dataset (See How Service Providers Can Access the Fabric and How Entities Can Access the Fabric).

To access the Fabric data, each governmental entity must log into the BDC system and execute a limited end-user license agreement for the Fabric. License requests will be processed as quickly as possible but depend on the number of pending requests. Due to this, delivery of the data may take up to two weeks from the time your entity information is submitted. 

1. If you do not already have one, obtain an FCC username and password, and an FCC Registration Number (FRN) for your entity, in CORES (Commission Registration System).  When creating your FRN, you must select the Entity Type that matches your government type (Federal, State/Local, or Tribal). 
    
2. Log in the BDC system at bdc.fcc.gov using your CORES username and password. 
    
3. After logging in, you should see any FRNs associated with your username.  Click on the FRN for the governmental entity that is seeking access to the Fabric dataset. 
    

4.  That will take you to the Entity Information page in the BDC system.  Enter the required information.  Note that the Government Entity type selected on that page must match the Government Entity type selected when registering the FRN in CORES in step 1.

    

   If you wish to access the Fabric in order to submit challenges to the Fabric or fixed availability data, and do not plan to submit verified data on broadband availability, select either the "Bulk Crowdsourced / Challenge Data" or "Obtain a Fabric License" option.

   
   
5. FCC staff will review the information and provide the contact information of approved entities to CostQuest.  
   
   
6. Within 3-5 business days, CostQuest will email you (or the Certifying Official identified in step 4) further instructions and a link to CostQuest’s website to create a user account.   
   
   
7. Create a user account – email and password – within CostQuest’s help desk system.   
   Note: This is a unique account, not tied to any other existing FCC accounts. 
   
   
8. If you are authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company, skip to step 9.  If you are not authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company, submit the contact information for the individual with that authority using the Add Licensee form in the Request Your Data section of the CostQuest help desk.  To complete the form, you will need:
   • the Name of the Licensee
   • the Email address of the Licensee.
     
     
9. After submitting the Add Licensee form, you can’t immediately proceed further since only the licensee may request the license. After you complete the Add Licensee form, the Licensee will receive an email with instructions to set up an account within 1-2 days.  Once this email is received, the Licensee can request a license. 
   
   
10. If you are authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company, submit a License Request form, available under the “Request Your Data” section, “Step 1: Request a License” link of the help desk. To complete the request, you’ll need the following info:
    • Name
    • Title 
    • Address 
    • Phone Number 
    • Name and email address of an administrator who can add other recipients or counties covered by the license 
    • Contact information for data recipients receiving access to the data file
      
      
11. After the License Request form is submitted, the Licensee will receive a confirmation email. 
    
    
12. CostQuest will validate the request and if it’s free of exceptions or errors, CostQuest will prepare the license and email a validation notification with links to access the license agreement. If CostQuest discovers errors or incomplete information on the form, they will reach out to the requestor for clarification. Assuming the request form is complete, the expected time from the license request to receipt of an electronic license is 1-2 business days. 
     
13. Sign the agreement via an electronic signature platform. Once that’s done, CostQuest will send a copy of the completed agreement within 1-3 business days. CostQuest will also prepare the preliminary data file, and you will receive a link to access the data through the help desk system within 1-2 business days. 
     
14. The link to download the data file will be emailed to the license requestor, the administrator, and any recipients associated with the holding company as listed in the license request form. 

Any questions about accessing the license agreement or how to access the Fabric data should be addressed to CostQuest at NBFsupport@costquest.com.  For information about the Fabric, see What is the Location Fabric?