Bipartisan group of senators aim to address wireless coverage map

US Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced the Mobile Accuracy and Precision Broadband Act (MAP Broadband Act) to improve the accuracy of the FCC’s wireless broadband coverage map. The legislation ensures that federal resources are targeting unserved areas that do not have access to reliable mobile broadband service.

The MAP Broadband Act would require the FCC to extend the process the by which people can challenge the accuracy of the FCC’s map, disclose the eligible devices that each mobile wireless service provider has approved for challengers to use in the challenge process, provide monthly updates on the number of entities that the Commission has approved to participate in the challenge process as challengers, and provide annual updates on the expansion of mobile wireless service through the MF-II program.

“The FCC’s seriously-flawed mobile coverage map threatens to exclude many rural communities from much-needed wireless broadband support,” Senator Wicker said. “The FCC should address Americans’ concerns and fix this inaccurate map. We need to ensure that the 23 million rural Americans who currently lack broadband service will be first in line to receive support through the Mobility Fund program.”

Link:

Wicker, Hassan, and Moran Introduce MAP Broadband Act to Address Wireless Coverage Map Gaps (US Senate, May 24, 2018)