Authority
Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-385, 122 STAT. 4096 § 103(c)(1); American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA), Pub. L. No. 111-5, 123 STAT. 115 (2009); Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. 154(i); Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (Broadband DATA Act), Pub. L. No. 116-130, § 806(b), 134 STAT. 228, 238 (2020), amended by Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. No. 117-58, § 60102(h)(2)(E)(ii), 135 STAT. 429, 1198 (2021) (codified at 47 U.S.C. § 646(b)).
Purpose
The information collected in this system, including name, street address, phone number(s), email address, geolocation information, timestamps, IP addresses, and other mobile device specifications, is used by the FCC to:
- collect and disseminate broadband service availability data (broadband maps);
- enable the submission of data challenging the accuracy of:
- FCC’s broadband coverage maps;
- and/or the information submitted by internet service providers regarding broadband service availability and quality of service;
- and/or the information included in the Fabric (national broadband data set);
- enable the submission of crowdsourced data regarding the deployment and availability of broadband internet access service.
Routine Uses
Information contained in this system may be made available to other individuals and entities when necessary and appropriate under 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, including:
- to the public via the Commission’s website for location information submitted as part of the challenge and crowdsourcing process;
- with fixed and mobile broadband service provider to resolve challenges;
- with other federal agencies including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), USDA, and Treasury to support federal broadband initiatives;
- with state, local, and Tribal governmental entities for use in their own broadband infrastructure funding programs;
- with certain FCC contractors, grantees, or volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records;
- for FCC enforcement actions;
- for congressional inquiries;
- for federal oversight;
- for law enforcement purposes;
- when required for federal litigation or adjudication;
- for breach notification and mitigation efforts;
- for prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse.
For a full, detailed list of routine uses, see the Broadband Data Collection System of Records Notice (FCC/OEA-6), posted at https://www.fcc.gov/managing-director/privacy-transparency/privacy-act-information.
Disclosure
Submission of this information is voluntary; however, choosing to do so will provide the FCC with valuable information about your broadband service.