The Calhoun County Broadband Task Force is seeking opportunities to improve internet in our community. Individuals can assist in this process by challenging the national FCC broadband maps to improve their accuracy. This effort will ensure that the federal government knows which residents and businesses have available internet options, so that funding for broadband expansion allocated to our community will be sufficient based on the actual need.
Historically, it's well known that FCC maps are inaccurate when it comes to demonstrating availability of internet nationwide, and particularly in our community. For instance, the Merit Network Study in 2021 found that in Calhoun County, 35% more homes than indicated by the FCC maps have no Internet connectivity whatsoever. We now have a way to make this federal data more accurate, which will translate to a greater understanding of what connectivity actually is in Calhoun County.
Because federal funds are tied to the accuracy of these FCC maps, we want to take advantage of the opportunity to improve them.
Challenging the FCC map is the process of pointing out discrepancies. In addition to County Government doing "bulk challenges," which are described below, individuals can check the map for their personal addresses and "challenge" the map if the information provided is not accurate.
We are asking for your assistance in this effort, especially if you know you do not have access to the internet at your residence.
Here's how:
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First, visit the FCC map at broadbandmap.fcc.gov and search for your address. When you search for your address, you will see a list of internet providers that can serve it and the types of service and speeds offered.
- If one of the services listed is not available at that location, click the Availability Challenge link.
- That will bring up a form where you can choose which Internet Service Provider (ISP) you would like to challenge.
- Scroll down to input your personal information and complete the form.
- Select your reason for challenge from the drop-down list.
- We recommend submitting “evidence” to support your challenge as a part of your availability challenge, which can be an email or screenshot from the ISP website that proves service is not available. You can also write a description of your experience with that ISP. *For evidence from the provider, go to the ISP’s website and enter your address on the website where it allows you to search whether that address is served. You can use a screenshot of the results of that search as evidence that you do not have service.
- Check the certification box at the bottom of the form and then click “Submit.”
The deadline for submitting challenges to be reflected in federal grant allocations is January 13, 2023. However, challenges will be accepted after that deadline, as well, and are still worth submitting as these maps will likely also impact how state dollars are distributed.
Calhoun County will also "bulk" challenge these maps with data that we have. We will challenge the map's location data to ensure it matches the address data that the County's GIS Department manages. Also, in working with the Merit Network, County Government will bulk challenge the availability data with information gained from the countywide broadband survey from 2021.
Calhoun County Government, with support from the Broadband Task Force and in partnership with local internet service providers, anticipates applying for state and federal funds to assist with the expansion of broadband internet. Ensuring the data on the FCC maps is accurate is a step toward making sure unserved areas can receive this federal funding.
