Rep. Neguse Implores FCC to Reform Broadband Mapping for Colorado’s Mountain Communities
Lafayette, CO — On Monday, Congressman Joe Neguse penned a letter to U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel requesting the agency address deficiencies in the accuracy of current broadband coverage maps. Rep. Neguse’s letter follows community conversations that highlighted the failure of current maps to consider the distinct challenges in providing high-speed broadband service to rural and mountain communities across Colorado. The FCC will use final maps to allocate Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to locations in need.
In August, Rep. Neguse joined Senator Bennett and Governor Polis in announcing more than $826 million in BEAD funding has been allocated to help expand broadband internet for households across America.
In his letter Congressman Neguse noted, “I represent Colorado’s Second Congressional District in the United States Congress. Our district encompasses 11 counties across Northwestern Colorado, and includes some of the most visited National Forests in the country. As you can imagine, inadequate broadband connection in these areas of Colorado places a significant strain on my constituents and raises serious safety concerns for these communities and residents. While I appreciate that the FCC has worked to provide improved broadband access across the country — per the mandate of the Congress — as stated above, current mapping mechanisms of the Commission and the corresponding standards it utilizes appear grossly deficient [...] I respectfully request that the FCC address the specific deficiencies in the accuracy of the current broadband coverage maps detailed above, and to work with our office and local jurisdictions to accomplish the same.”
Read the full letter HERE and below.
“We would like to thank Representative Neguse for his support in addressing the concerns we have with the FCC map. The lack of broadband and reliable cell service in our small community presents significant safety risks for our residents. The current FCC map does not accurately reflect the real conditions we experience every day. The Town of Blue River deserves to be served for the safety of our community and the comfort of our residents,” said Mayor Toby Babich, Town of Blue River.
"Improving broadband connectivity is one of Eagle County's key objectives within our strategic priority to create a resilient economy. Connecting rural communities with reliable broadband is essential to providing information and services to large portions of our population. The FCC can be an extremely helpful partner to Colorado's counties by providing accurate mapping that reflects the on-the-ground situation so resources can be properly deployed,” said Matt Scherr, Eagle County Commissioner.
Representative Neguse has been a vocal advocate for the need to increase investments in Colorado’s broadband infrastructure, helping to connect communities in hard-to-reach places with affordable high-speed internet. Earlier this year, Congressman Joe Neguse reintroduced his bipartisan bill to expand broadband access to rural communities. The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act would strengthen funding mechanisms for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which promotes universal access to broadband and other telecommunications services.
October 30, 2023
The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel
Chairwoman
U.S. Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairwoman Rosenworcel,
I write to request the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “the Commission”) immediately address deficiencies with respect to FCC mapping of available broadband service and the standards that determine a serviced area, both of which neglect to consider the distinct challenges in providing high-speed broadband service in mountain communities across Colorado.
By way of background, I represent Colorado’s Second Congressional District in the United States Congress. Our district encompasses 11 counties across Northwestern Colorado, and includes some of the most visited National Forests in the country. As you can imagine, inadequate broadband connection in these areas of Colorado places a significant strain on my constituents and raises serious safety concerns for these communities and residents.
While I appreciate that the FCC has worked to provide improved broadband access across the country — per the mandate of the Congress — as stated above, current mapping mechanisms of the Commission and the corresponding standards it utilizes appear grossly deficient. In short, under the existing FCC maps, many of the areas referenced above appear to have full mobile broadband coverage, which is not reflective of the reality on the ground. The resulting inaccuracies are major impediments to unserved and underserved communities seeking federal and state resources that are specifically designed to address broadband gaps such as these.
Substantial segments of public roads and highways–many of which are the only access routes for local ski resort areas -– including in Eagle, Gilpin, and Summit Counties, and the Town of Blue River, for example -– lack any mobile broadband service, contrary to what is currently listed on the FCC’s coverage map. These heavily visited communities in Colorado urgently require reliable mobile broadband to respond to emergencies. These areas, and other similarly situated mountain towns, regularly experience thousands of daily vehicle trips at elevations where severe winter storms can occur during nearly every month of the year, and the threat of wildfire looms whenever snow is not on the ground.
In sum, I respectfully request that the FCC address the specific deficiencies in the accuracy of the current broadband coverage maps detailed above, and to work with our office and local jurisdictions to accomplish the same. I appreciate your prompt attention to this important matter, and await your reply. I look forward to continuing to work with the Commission to address broadband availability for mountain communities in Colorado.
Sincerely,
Joe Neguse
Member of Congress
cc: The Honorable Alan Davidson
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information National Telecommunications and Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20230
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