Federal Communications Commission

Decommissioning of the National Broadband Map and its APIs

Since 2011, the National Broadband Map has been a vital tool for consumers, businesses, policy makers, and researchers by providing an easy- to-use and searchable way to find out who is offering broadband, what types of broadband they are offering, and where they are offering it.  But the mapping platform has become dated, as has the coverage data, which was collected through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) State Broadband Initiative (SBI); the last published SBI data set was current as of June 30, 2014.  Based on the age of the data, and the underlyi

FCC to Investigate Potential Mobility Fund Mapping Rule Violations

The Federal Communications Commission has launched an investigation into whether one or more major carriers violated the Mobility Fund Phase II (MF-II) reverse auction’s mapping rules and submitted incorrect coverage maps. The investigation comes after a preliminary review of the 20,809,503 speed tests filed with the agency in connection with the MF-II challenge process; the window for initial challenges closed on November 26. The FCC has suspended the next step of the challenge process—the opening of a response window—pending the conclusion of this investigation

Happy Birthday, FCC Office of Economics and Analytics

Establishment of the Office of Economics and Analytics. This action is taken to enhance the role of economic analysis, the design and implementation of auctions, and the use and management of data at the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC determined that the proper dispatch of its business and the public interest will be served by creating an Office of Economics and Analytics. In the Order, the FCC amended its Rules to reflect the new organizational structure, describe the Office’s functions and delegated authority, and make other conforming changes.

Jane Hinckley Halprin Will Serve As FCC's Administrative Law Judge

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that Jane Hinckley Halprin will serve as the agency’s Administrative Law Judge. Halprin will replace Judge Richard Sippel, who retired on Dec 1. The Office of Administrative Law Judges of the FCC is responsible for conducting the hearings ordered by the Commission.

Chairman Pai Remarks at Veterans Affairs Telehealth Summit

The Department of Veterans Affairs has been aggressively implementing telehealth services. And at the Federal Communications Commission, we’ve been working to seize the opportunities of connected health for all Americans, including veterans. So it’s fitting that we gather this morning to reaffirm our shared belief that telemedicine can improve the quality of health care that our veterans receive. We can’t realize the promise of telehealth without connectivity. This is one of the reasons that, since day one as FCC Chairman, my top priority has been closing the digital divide.

FCC Releases Draft Appendices to Communications Marketplace Report

The Federal Communications Commission released a draft of the appendices to the Communications Marketplace Report. A draft version of the Communications Marketplace Report, scheduled for consideration at the FCC’s December 12, 2018 Open Meeting, was released on November 21, 2018. The appendices include the data collected and analyzed by FCC staff in developing the draft Communications Marketplace Report.

Chairman Pai Remarks at International Telecom & Media Forum

I’m pleased to note that the Americas region continues to work hard and steadily advance regional proposals for the 2019 International Telecommunication Union World Radio Conference. We are deeply focused on the WRC-19.

FCC Inspector General Report on Sinclair-Tribune Merger Interactions Disclosure

In response to a request from Representative Frank Pallone, Jr.

Status Update: Fixing 9-1-1 Fee Diversion

It's now been almost ten months since my colleague, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, and I penned an op-ed in The Hill reaffirming the need to end states' diversion of critical 9-1-1 fees collected from consumers to non-9-1-1 functions.

FCC Seeks Nominations for Chairman's Awards in Accessibility

The Federal Communications Commission will accept nominations for the eighth Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman’s AAA). The nomination period opens on Dec 1, 2018 and continues through Feb 28, 2019 for products, services, technologies or practices introduced to the public between Jan 1, 2018 and Dec 31, 2018. Nominations may be submitted for the development of new mainstream or assistive technologies introduced into the marketplace, the development of standards, or the implementation of best practices that further accessibility.

Internet Access Services: Status as of June 30, 2017

This report summarizes information about Internet access connections in the United States as of June 30, 2017 as collected by FCC Form 477. For purposes of this report, Internet access connections are those in service, over 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction, and reported to the FCC through Form 477. Total Internet connections increased by about 3% between June 2016 and June 2017 to 409 million. Mobile Internet connections increased about 4% year-over-year to 303 million in June 2017, while fixed connections grew to 106 million – up about 2% from June 2016.