A few days ago, the FCC released the 4th version of the National Broadband Map, with data as of December 2023. At a high level, the trend continues of fewer and fewer unserved and underserved locations: in the previous version, 10.1 million locations were unserved or unserved. Now, with six months more data, we’re down to 8.8 million locations needing better broadband service. That’s an 11% decrease over one six-month period.
we all know the 477 data is self reported, dated and prone to errors. The less reported fact is the way states have been handing out billions in grant funding (mostly unused covid stimulus), mostly to incumbents without any knowledge or oversight how it is applied. states have only just started reviewing this because the BEAD rules require elimination of any location that is subject to another federally funded grant. we have reviewed the data in our markets and found thousands of examples where carriers have received multiple grants to serve single locations and received grants to serve locations that are already served.
we all know the 477 data is self reported, dated and prone to errors. The less reported fact is the way states have been handing out billions in grant funding (mostly unused covid stimulus), mostly to incumbents without any knowledge or oversight how it is applied. states have only just started reviewing this because the BEAD rules require elimination of any location that is subject to another federally funded grant. we have reviewed the data in our markets and found thousands of examples where carriers have received multiple grants to serve single locations and received grants to serve locations that are already served.