Good afternoon - please see below to register for a NRECA/NRTC Webinar on the Broadband Map Availability Challenge Project.

Michelle Hershel
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Florida Electric Cooperatives Assoc.
2916 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL  32301
Cell:  (850) 510-1693
(850)877-6166, ext. 3

NOTE: This e-mail is  intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed.  The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential. If you believe you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately, delete the e-mail from your computer and do not copy or disclose it to anyone else. If you properly received this e-mail you should maintain its contents in confidence.

From: O'Hara, Brian M. <Brian.O'Hara@nreca.coop>
Sent: Wednesday, December 7, 2022 3:40 PM
To: StatewideRegGroup <StatewideRegGroup@nreca.coop>
Subject: Webinar 12/8: NRECA/NRTC Broadband Map Availability Challenge Project

NRECA/NRTC Webinar
Thursday, December 8
2 p.m., Eastern Time
REGISTER HERE<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/register.gotowebinar.com/register/3257554313459195989?utm_campaign=Funding&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--PCYut3Td5vAdQ10Hejh6N_7LSayd5GdPTJQyHhQA69AdTPNdKmKHIDgybR-2xDx5t0aMjw6UYMIYEMsEdCWdX-DTlbA&utm_content=2&utm_source=hs_email__;!!KtIFMA!ImLIMTOS42f8p5ToTw6BfV8SXs4qf3GkE3fwXgQtxp3uoduugVOGzwEQIJRCkUXSaUrkZpHdJ0Yap_wwxsw1uaYLhg$>

 The first draft of the FCC's Broadband Map is out. The next version will serve as the basis for allocating $42.5 billion of Broadband Access, Equity, and Deployment (BEAD) funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to states for their broadband programs.

NTIA urges interested parties to submit challenges to the Map by January 13, 2023 in order to be processed into the next version. Several types of challenges can be submitted.

One type is the "Availability Challenge." While this kind of challenge does NOT address network performance (i.e., advertised speeds v. what customers experience), there are options for a bulk fixed challenge:

  *   Knowledge of Infrastructure - could be based on knowledge of where network facilities and plant exist
  *   Information Collected from Individual Consumers - collecting information from individual consumers about the broadband services available, and not available, to them

NRECA and NRTC have joined together to help member providers prepare data that is needed to submit a valid Knowledge of Infrastructure Availability Challenge likely to pass the FCC's initial review.
Join NRECA and NRTC for a webinar on Thursday, December 8th at 2:00 p.m. EST for an explanation of this process and how we can help you prepare an Availability Challenge.

Note: Getting the maps correct is not just for co-ops in broadband but will have a broad impact on their community and state.  If dubious claims of broadband service in co-op electric service territory are left unchallenged these communities will not be eligible for broadband funding and will be left behind.   This is a matter of economic development.   We encourage all cooperatives to join this session to learn how they might help in challenging the accuracy of the FCC broadband maps.

Sincerely,
NRTC Funding Team
NRECA Broadband Team

Brian M. O'Hara
Senior Director Regulatory Issues - Telecom & Broadband
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
4301 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203
703-907-5798 (O) 571-255-9858 (M)
brian.ohara@nreca.coop<mailto:brian.ohara@nreca.coop>
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