National Broadband Availability Map [4]

Wed, October 02, 2019

National Broadband Availability Map Overview & Background

NTIA received funding from Congress in 2018 to update the National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Congress directed NTIA to acquire and utilize data from available third-party datasets. NTIA built upon existing partnerships with states and local governments to identify data from state, local and tribal governments, and owners and operators of broadband networks, educational institutions, nonprofits and cooperatives to create the map. Eight “pilot” states – California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia are involved in the first phase of the map. Administrators for the pilot states will be able to access the map and its data in order to better inform broadband projects and funding decisions in their states. Updates on the NBAM’s development will be posted below.

For questions, please email broadbandusa@ntia.gov [5].

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What is the National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM)?

A: It is more than a map. The NBAM is a secure GIS (geographic information system) platform for the visualization and comparison of federal, state, and commercially available data sets. The NBAM will help identify regions with insufficient service, compare multiple data-sets to identify discrepancies in broadband availability (e.g. served vs. underserved or unserved), and produce reports and analyses that could be used for broadband policy, planning, and investment decision-making.

Q: Will the platform be available to the public?

A: The platform will include both publicly available and non-public data.  Non-public data may be business sensitive or have licensing restrictions that prevent public disclosure.  Therefore, the NBAM will only be made available to state and federal partners.

Q: How does NTIA's National Broadband Availability map differ from the FCC Fixed Broadband Deployment map?

A: The FCC Fixed Broadband Deployment map displays residential fixed broadband deployment data collected from facilities-based providers of broadband service. The FCC collects that data from broadband providers using Form 477, in June and December each year. NTIA's National Broadband Availability map includes the FCC 477 data and other federal and non-federal datasets that can be compared to inform broadband planning and policy-making.  As the program moves forward, NTIA plans to add additional data from additional partner states, federal agencies, industry, and accessible commercial datasets.

Q: Whom should I contact for customer support?

A: NBAM users should direct all inquiries, questions, suggestions and feedback to NTIA at 202-482-2048 or nbam@ntia.gov [6]. Media and press inquiries should be directed to NTIA’s Office of Public Affairs at press@ntia.gov.