Washington, March 31, 2022 – The chair of the Federal Communications Commission said Thursday that the improved broadband maps needed to adequately disburse billions in federal infrastructure dollars will come this fall. During a House Energy and Commerce Committee Oversight hearing Thursday, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, “Absolutely, yes. We will have [complete] maps in the fall.”
Completed Maps Will ‘Absolutely’ Be Available This Fall, FCC’s Rosenworcel Says
That will start the clock on multiple rounds of disputes over the accuracy of the maps as well as proposed advanced telecom infrastructure projects whose eligibility for 75 percent planning and construction grant funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) is linked to the maps. The maps will determine projects ineligible for funding because less than 80 percent of addresses are deemed under IIJA provisions as "unserved:" areas where no incumbent providers offer "broadband" service of at least 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up.
Here's the timeline of how these battles will likely play out, assuming the maps are issued as projected by the fall:
Fall 2022: FCC releases maps for state input as to their accuracy.
Fall 2022-Spring/Summer 2023: States dispute maps accuracy claiming they overstate “served” areas as with prior FCC "broadband maps."
Fall 2023: After FCC deems new maps accurate, states and incumbents/WISPs continue to disagree over their accuracy.
Late 2023-Early 2024: Incumbents/ WISPs file challenges of proposed projects with states, contending they cover “served” areas.
Summer/fall 2024: Incumbents/WISPs appeal state determinations to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as allowed by the IIJA.
Early 2025: States and incumbents/WISPs appeal NTIA determinations to the courts.
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