Will FCC and state broadband maps duel or dance?

The Federal Communications Commission is in the midst of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar effort to update its broadband coverage map. But the gears of government turn slowly and rather than waiting for the new FCC maps, several states including Virginia, New York, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Florida have either already released or are developing their own maps. While this might seem like a duplicative effort on the surface, Anna Read, senior officer for Pew's Broadband Access Initiative, said the state-level maps will complement rather than compete with the new FCC map. Officials have touted the forthcoming FCC map as a revolutionary step forward, arguing the data it is set to provide will be significantly more accurate than the Form 477 information the agency has previously relied on to track coverage. But there are limitations to its scope. An FCC representative said that as mandated under the Broadband DATA Act passed in 2020, its new map will specifically measure “broadband availability.” The narrow scope of its data collection means the map won’t include information on things like adoption, affordability or the quality of the broadband service that’s actually delivered. States, in contrast, have been adding a variety of layers to their broadband coverage maps. Read noted these include overlays for things like speed test data, community anchor institutions, transportation corridors and areas which are due to receive federal broadband funding. She added the creation and maintenance of many state maps was mandated by each state’s legislature, meaning these maps aren’t likely to be pushed aside anytime soon.