ISPs don’t want to tell the FCC exactly where they offer Internet service

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The Federal Communications Commission is considering whether it should collect more accurate data about broadband deployment in the US, but cable and telecommunication lobby groups are urging the FCC to maintain the status quo. Currently, the FCC's "Form 477" data collection program requires Internet service providers to identify the census blocks in which they provide residential or business Internet service and the maximum speeds offered in each block. ISPs are also supposed to identify the census blocks that are near enough to their networks that they could provide service within a reasonable timeframe.

Broadband lobby groups are urging the FCC to maintain the census block-level reporting, saying that reporting whether they can offer service at individual homes would be too burdensome on ISPs. ISPs have sometimes mistakenly told people moving to a new home that broadband service is available at their new address when, in fact, it is not. If the lobby groups succeed in blocking any change, this situation could persist.


ISPs don’t want to tell the FCC exactly where they offer Internet service Verizon says FCC should avoid increasing broadband reporting requirements (Fierce)