County Asks Community For Help To Challenge Rural Broadband Map

By Gordon HopkinsThe accuracy of the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) National Broadband Map is being disputed by a number of both government officials and broadband providers. Randy Sandman, CEO of Diode Communications, based in Diller, met with Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday, December 12, 2022. Sandman told commissioners, “The Broadband Map, the new one, is horrible, is flawed beyond belief. And so, according to that map, Nebraska is 98 percent covered. And we all know better.”Jefferson County Commissioners continue to make improved broadband coverage for those areas unserved and under-served a priority. To that end, the county has partnered with Diode Communications. County Commissioner Mark Schoenrock said, “The model that we’re using for Jefferson County, the public-private partnership, and we look forward to continuing in that realm. That’s a good model for us to bring broadband to the citizens of Jefferson County.”Earlier this month, it was announced that Diode would be receiving partial grant funding to assist in the placement of 60 miles of buried fiber optic facilities to 145 rural homes. The new state-of-the-art fiber is intended to provide high speed broadband capable of gigabit speeds and more.In Jefferson County, the public-private partnership with Diode Communications and Jefferson County using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds earmarked for broadband expansion. When combined with State of Nebraska Broadband Bridge Act grants the fiber improvements will cover 102 unserved homes in the county.In Gage County, Diode Communications and Nebraska Broadband Bridge funds will be utilized to bring fiber to 43 unserved homes in a project area called “West Ellis.” The focus of the improvements here will include areas of western Gage County mainly south of Highway 4.Challenging the MapConsiderably more funds are needed to make inroads to those unserved and under-served areas. There are potential funding opportunities from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which will provide $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.Since this money is intended for under-served areas, the inaccuracy of the FCC’s National Broadband Map could be an impediment to Nebraska receiving the needed funds.Loren Duerksen General Manager of Diode Communications, said, “The state is going to, hopefully, be doing bulk challenges to the FCC.”Nebraska Public Service Commissioners Dan Watermeier (District 1), Tim Schram (District 3) Rod Johnson (District 4) and Mary Ridder (District 5), recently wrote in a letter, “Our work in holding telecoms accountable and pushing broadband further out into more rural locations is ongoing. With substantial federal grants for broadband infrastructure on the horizon, making accurate maps is imperative. The federal maps which depict where locations have broadband service (or do not), and to what speed, will be the funding mechanism for millions of dollars beginning in 2023. Funding for broadband in Nebraska depends on the accuracy of these maps.”Public Service Commissioners regulate industries that are natural monopolies such as taxis, natural gas, telecommunications companies, grain warehouses as well as manufactured homes and the next generation 911 service.What the Public Can DoPublic Service Commissioners are requesting help from he public to challenge the map, “Many attempts have been made over past years to correct inaccurate data turned in by some companies. Now there is an opportunity to challenge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband map if your location is not receiving service or not at advertised speeds.”To participate, go to the new FCC National Broadband map at: https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/homeEnter an address in the “location” boxZoom down to where the buildings are located, and the hexagons disappear, to see what broadband service is supposed to be there.If you see the location of buildings/facilities, click on the dot:A. If green – determine if the providers that show up could serve that locationB. If gray, and you believe the location should be able to receive broadband, or there is no dot, click on “location challenge” and follow the instructions.If you have questions, please email psc.communications@nebraska.gov.According to the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO), the more individuals that participate, the more likely the challenge is to be successful. The deadline to challenge is January 13, 2023.

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