Lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee hammered FCC Commissioners to think beyond what the agency is already doing to fix its broadband coverage maps.
Montana Democrat Jon Tester was potentially the most strident, saying: “The maps stink.” He’s not confident what the agency has planned, will work, he said during yesterday’s FCC oversight hearing.
Tester said depending on where he walks outside his house, he can send a text, but that’s it. While he’s happy Verizon this week announced it’s deploying 5G in Indianapolis, “I’m concerned it will never come to Montana. What happens to places that have no G?” (ed: emphasis added)
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai began to explain the measures the Commission is taking to increase broadband deployment such as freeing up more spectrum and easing it’s outdated infrastructure siting rules. The FCC also asked carriers to standardize coverage information they provide the agency. The Commission has now extended the deadline for the map challenge process by 90 days — to November 28. The maps are key to determining eligibility for what areas and what carriers can apply for broadband subsidies.
Tester said: “You’ve got to be more proactive” in getting the maps fixed “and not depend on the Kansas Farm Bureau to do it.” He was referring to Jerry Moran (R-KS), who said earlier in the hearing, the farm bureau there is sending people into the field to measure signal strength and will provide its findings to the Commission. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) thinks the federal government should do more to “bear the burden of improving” the broadband maps and suggested the FCC seek help from other federal agencies.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel believes the agency should seek help from the private sector and the public “before we allocate billions of dollars,” with the maps. She noted several consumers have told the Commission where they do and don’t receive broadband coverage. “We should be using our FCC field offices, even postal trucks in rural America,” potentially outfitting the trucks with technology to measure where broadband connectivity is and where it isn’t, said Rosenworcel.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
August 17, 2018
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