Through the federal Internet for All initiative, there are opportunities for all U.S. states to receive funding to improve broadband access. One program included in this initiative, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, provides $42 billion to states to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs nationwide. Funds will be allocated to states according to a formula derived from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Broadband Map data. These maps provide a picture of where broadband is and is not available across the country. … To ensure that the maps are constantly improving in accuracy, the FCC has set up a system that allows consumers to challenge inaccuracies and provide feedback. Individuals who see that the information on the maps does not match up with what they know from their lived experience will be able to submit challenges, or request corrections, directly through the map interface. The FCC will also accept bulk challenges to the reported availability data from state, Tribal, and local governments and other stakeholders who see problems that need corrected in multiple locations. To learn more about how the broadband map works and who is eligible to submit a challenge, please review this document: FCC Challenge Handout. … All challenges should be submitted by January 13, 2023, to ensure that they are considered to inform funding allocations
