The FCC’s National Broadband Map provides iterative, location-by-location maps of broadband availability nationwide.
The Fabric is part of that Map and provides a common dataset of all locations (or structures) in the U.S. where fixed broadband internet access service is or can be installed. These locations appear as points on the National Broadband Map and provide the foundation for collecting data from fixed broadband providers on where they make service available in the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection. The public can challenge the Fabric data to improve the accuracy of the location information included on the map.
Bulk Challenges
Governmental entities, service providers, and other third parties may submit bulk challenges to the Fabric to help identify missing and incorrect locations. Challengers can take the steps below to prepare a bulk Fabric challenge:
- Execute a free license agreement for access to the Fabric data.
- Watch the Fabric videos to learn more about the Fabric and Fabric challenge process.
- Review the Public Notice announcing the bulk Fabric challenge data specification and explaining the FCC’s methodology for identifying structures as Broadband Serviceable Locations.
- Develop a strategy for reviewing and validating the Fabric data for a particular geographic area.
- Align and format your data with the requirements set out in the Fabric bulk challenge data specification.
An updated version of the Fabric is typically made available to Fabric licensees every June and December in conjunction with the opening of each new BDC biannual submission filing window. Once an updated Fabric version is released, bulk challenges can only be submitted to that Fabric version in the BDC system. The FCC typically announces a date by which bulk Fabric challenges should be submitted so that they can be processed and the results can be incorporated into the next version of the Fabric.
If a challenge submitted by the announced date is accepted, the results will be incorporated into the next version of the Fabric. Challengers will be made aware of the results of accepted challenges at the time an updated Fabric version is released to Fabric licensees. However, if a Fabric challenge is rejected, Fabric challengers may receive feedback before the next version of the Fabric is released via email and within the BDC system. Parties can refile a challenge if they wish using a different challenge type or submitting other information in their file upload. See How to Submit a Successful Bulk Fabric Challenge for more information on Fabric challenges and the correct challenge types to use when submitting a challenge.
Individual Fabric Location Challenges
Members of the public can submit individual challenges, or proposed corrections, to information about a location on the National Broadband Map directly from map. Consumers may use this method to submit challenges for their own residences or small businesses, or other locations about which they have first-hand, on-the-ground knowledge.
These location challenges can attempt to:
- Correct or update the address, unit count, or building type for a location
- Move the point from one building to another on the same property (e.g., from a barn/garage to a home/business)
- Add an additional address for a location
- Remove a location that does not or would not have a broadband connection
Consumers can also attempt to add a new location to the map by clicking on the map.
If an individual Fabric challenge is accepted, the change will be reflected in the next version of the Fabric when that version is made available to Fabric licensees, which occurs every June and December. However, that next version of the Fabric won’t be published on the National Broadband Map until the following November or May (respectively). If an individual challenge is rejected, the challenger may receive feedback about that before the June or December release of an updated Fabric. More information on how to track the status of individual challenges can be found in How to View and Manage Location and Availability Challenges.