Advocacy News – Dec. 15, 2022
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a new National Broadband Map. We need to help ensure it is as accurate as possible. Assuring correct internet speeds helps inform funding allocations for broadband infrastructure in each state. Businesses can help play an important role as the level of internet access and speeds for employers has historically been more difficult to track. High-speed internet is not available to nearly half a million homes in Michigan, and too many Michigan homes and businesses do not have the needed access to speeds now required in an increasingly digital age.
Here’s how to access the FCC broadband map:
- Visit the broadband map, then type in an address and see if the reported coverage is accurate. You can access the site from a computer or a mobile device.
- Businesses or residents can submit a challenge by clicking “Location Challenge” if the location of their home or business is missing or incorrect, or “Availability Challenge” if the internet service information is incorrect.
- Visit the website of any internet service provider that claims to serve their location and use the website’s “Check Availability” or similar tool to determine if the provider can serve their location.
- If they can’t, a screenshot of their website can be submitted to the FCC as evidence for an Availability Challenge.
Get more information on how to file an availability challenge using the new map.
To ensure an accurate map is used for funding decisions, all challenges must be submitted by Jan. 13, 2023.
For questions or more information, contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com.