As part of the Broadband Data Collection (BDC), the public can submit challenges, or proposed corrections, to the information in the FCC’s Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric).
- Service providers, governments, and other entities can submit bulk challenges to the Fabric in the BDC system.
- Individuals can submit single-location challenges to the Fabric from the FCC National Broadband Map.
Bulk Fabric Challenge Data includes information about multiple challenges to the Fabric.
- Each bulk Fabric challenge data file must contain records of each location being challenged in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) format and match the specification below.
- All fields must be included in the file upload, even if they are null, and all values must conform to the descriptions, codes, or formats identified for each field. The file must include a header row with field names that match those listed below.
- The FCC and its Fabric contractor, CostQuest, receive and review the bulk Fabric challenge data on an ongoing basis.
Specifications
Bulk Fabric challenge data must be submitted in the BDC system via file upload and conform to the specifications detailed below.
| Field |
Data Type {Number of Characters} |
Example | Description / Notes |
| contact_name | String | Jane Broadband | Full name of the entity’s challenge data contact. |
| contact_email | String | jane.broadband@ mygovt.gov | Email address of the entity’s challenge data contact. - Value must match valid email address format, e.g.: atom@domain.tld. |
| contact_phone | String | 888-225-5322 | Phone number of the entity’s challenge data contact.
|
| category_code | Enumerated Integer | 1 |
Code identifying the category or type of Fabric challenge. - Value must be one of the following codes: 1 – A location is missing from the Fabric 2 – The primary address for this location is incorrect 3 – The unit count for this location is incorrect 4 – The building type code for this location is incorrect. 5 – A different building on the same property or parcel should be the BSL 6 – The location does not or would not have a broadband connection 7 – Add supplemental address 8 – Remove supplemental address |
| location_id | String | 1000001234 |
Unique identifier of the location from the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric dataset. - Value must be null if category_code value is 1 or 8, but is required for all other category_code values. |
| address_ primary | String |
1 St NE |
Street number, street name, and any applicable prefix or suffix of the first address line (primary address) of the location. This is the address the challenger believes to be correct for the location. - Value is required either if category_code value is 7, or if category_code value is 1 or 2 and bsl_lacks_address_flag value is 0. - Value must be null either if category_code value is 3, 4, 5, or 6, or 8, or if category_code value is 1 or 2 and bsl_lacks_address_flag value is 1. - Value can only contain the following characters: A-Za-z0-9À-ÖØ-Ýà-öø-ÿ &+-@'#(). |
| city | String | Washington |
Full name of the city, town, municipality, or census designated place associated with address the challenger believes to be correct for the location. - Value is required if category_code value is 1, 2, or 7. - Value must be null if category_code value is 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8. - Value can only contain the following characters: A-Za-z0-9À-ÖØ-Ýà-öø-ÿ &+-@'#(). |
| state | String {2} | DC |
Two-letter USPS abbreviation identifying the state or territory associated with address the challenger believes to be correct for the location. - Value is required if category_code value is 1, 2, or 7. - Value must be null if category_code value is 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8. |
| zip_code | String {5} | 20002 |
Five-digit USPS ZIP code associated with address the challenger believes to be correct for the location. - Value is required either if category_code value is 7 or if category_code value is 1 or 2 and bsl_lacks_address_flag value is 0.- Value is optional and may be null if category_code value is 1 or 2 and bsl_lacks_address_flag is 1. - Value must be null if category_code value is 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8. |
| zip_code_suffix | String {4} |
Four-digit USPS ZIP+4 code suffix, if applicable, associated with address the challenger believes to be correct for the location. - Value is optional and may be null.- Value must be null if category_code value is 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8. |
|
| unit_count | Integer | 1 |
Count of units that the challenger believes to be correct for the location. - Value is required if category_code value is 1 or 3. - Value must be null if category_code value is 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. |
| building_type_code | Enumerated String {1} | B |
Enumerated character identifying the building type the challenger believes to be correct for the location. A building type challenge may be based on the type of broadband service made available, or subscribed to, at the location. - Value must be one of the following codes: R – Residential-only location (this location is for people to live in but is not a Group Quarters, and it has a roof, a door, windows, electrical power (including an off-grid power source), and eating and sleeping space. B– Business-only location (this location is a small business work place, has electricity, is protected from the elements, and has, e.g., eating or kitchen facilities, plumbing, space for computers, or space to park vehicles) X – Business and Residential location (this location is both suitable for living and is a small business work place) G – Group Quarters location (this location is for group/communal living (e.g., it is a nursing home, dormitory, prison, barracks, or similar) - If non-mass-market broadband Internet access service (such as enterprise-grade service) currently is or would likely be made available at the location, enter one of the codes below. Locations with one of the following codes are included in the Fabric dataset but are not Broadband Serviceable Locations. C – Community Anchor Institution (this location is, e.g., a K-12 school, college/university, a library, a hospital/medical facility, large government office, or public safety location) E – Enterprise location (this building is for a large enterprise, the type of business that would need a significant amount of Internet capacity) - If the missing location is one of the following, enter the corresponding code below. These codes can only be entered if category_code = 1. Locations with the following codes will not be included in the Fabric dataset. S – Support structure (e.g., a garage, parking structure, barn, silo, power generation facility, storage shed) to a nearby building that does or would subscribe to broadband Internet access service M – Location is designed to be mobile, such as an RV or boat. O – Other Successful Type 1 or Type 4 challenges that result in a location having a building type code of C or E will result in the location having a BSL_Flag=False value in the Fabric dataset. - Value is required if category_code value is 1 or 4. If 4, the entry cannot match the current building_type_code value associated with the location, nor can it be S, M, or O. - Value must be null if category_code value is 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 or 8. |
| residential_code | Enumerated String {1} |
H |
Enumerated character identifying the type of Residential structure the location is. - Value must be one of the following codes: H – House (detached, single-family) T – Townhouse or rowhouse A – Multi-unit apartment building N – Condominium building F – Manufactured or mobile home (not an RV) - Value is optional if category_code value is 1 or 4 and building_type_code is R or X. - Value must be null if category_code value is 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, or 8. |
| group_quarters_code | Enumerated String {1} |
D |
Enumerated character identifying the type of Group Quarters structure. - Value must be one of the following codes: U – Location is a nursing home, skilled nursing facility or residential treatment center D – Location is a college or university residence hall or workers’ dormitory P – Location is a correctional facility or prison Q–Location is a military barracks O–Other - Value must be null if category_code value is 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, or 8. |
| build_timing | Enumerated Integer {1} | 1 |
Enumerated integer identifying how long the construction of the location was completed. - Value must be one of the following codes: 0 – Less than one year ago. 1 – One to three years ago. 3 – Over three years ago. - Value is optional if category_code value is 1. - Value must be null if category_code value is 2, 3, 4, |
| non_bsl_code | Enumerated String {1} | D |
Enumerated character identifying the reason the challenger believes a structure should not have a standalone broadband connection. - Value must be one of the following codes: D – Location has been demolished and is not expected to be rebuilt B – Location used to be, but is no longer, habitable C – Location has no electricity (via grid or off-grid sources) or plumbing U – Location is a support structure (e.g., a garage, parking structure, barn, silo, power generation facility, storage shed) to a nearby building M – Location is intended to be mobile (e.g., it is an RV or boat) R – Location is not a building but a land formation, such as a large rock or collection of hay bales Z – Location does not exist for another reason O – Location does not require a broadband connection for another reason - Value is required if category_code value is 6. - Value must be null if category_code value is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 8. Successful Type 6 challenges will result in the location being removed from the Fabric dataset. |
| support_structure_code | Enumerated String {1} |
J |
If the challenger believes the building is a support structure, enter an enumerated character identifying the type of support structure. - Value must be one of the following codes: J – Garage, parking structure, or car port H – Storage shed N – Barn I – Silo W – Power generation facility O – Other - Value is optional if category_code value is 1 and building_type_code is S; or if category_code value is 6 and non_bsl_code is U. - Value must be null if category_code value is 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 8. |
| bsl_lacks_address_flag | Boolean Integer | 0 |
Boolean integer flag indicating whether the challenger believes the Broadband Serviceable Location lacks an address. - Value must be one of the following codes: 0 – False 1 – True - Value is required if category_code value is 1 or 2. - Value must be null if category_code value is 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. |
| latitude | Decimal (10,7) | 38.903693 |
Unprojected (WGS-84) geographic coordinate latitude in decimal degrees that the challenger believes is correct for the location. - Value must have minimum precision of 6 decimal digits. - Value is required if category_code value is 1 or 5. - Value must be null if category_code value is 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 or 8. |
| longitude | Decimal (10,7) | -77.009682 |
Unprojected (WGS-84) geographic coordinate longitude in decimal degrees that the challenger believes is correct for the location. - Value must have minimum precision of 6 decimal digits. - Value is required if category_code value is 1 or 5. - Value must be null if category_code value is 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 or 8. |
| address_id | Integer | 327752417 |
Unique ID of the supplemental address - Value is required if category_code value is 8. - Value must be null if category_code value is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. |
Additional Resources