Public Knowledge Wants Broadband Providers to Pay for Broadband Mapping Errors
To help close the digital divide, the FCC needs a robust verification system for its broadband maps that relies less on broadband providers' self-reported data, Public Knowledge said in a letter posted in docket 19-195 Thursday. "The FCC's faulty data…
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collection process has led to the production of broadband maps that overstate broadband availability in many parts of the U.S.," the group said, leaving unserved communities "on the wrong side of the digital divide." Public Knowledge wants ISPs to take more responsibility for the mapping data they provide. "Carriers that overstate deployment risk disqualifying truly unserved areas from receiving universal support," it said. "Carriers should have some skin in the game if they overstate coverage." It suggested the FCC consider crowdsourcing and other challenge systems to check the accuracy of the service availability and performance data that providers report (see 1908070009). "To incentivize participation and offset costs, these verification mechanisms should require providers that have overstated coverage data to reimburse expenses for those who successfully challenge inaccurate carrier data submissions," it said. Public Knowledge said it supports FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks' idea "of using more advanced data validation algorithms to help catch error data."