FCC Fabric Resources

Important Note

The Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric data entities get through the FCC’s BDC program, can only be used for BDC purposes. No commercial use is allowed.

See Question 4 in our FCC Fabric FAQ for more information.

FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric Version 3 is now available

Fixed broadband service providers, government entities, and other designated entities are now able to access Version 3 of the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (also referred to as the Fabric, FCC Fabric, Location Fabric, and FCC Broadband Fabric) to support the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) program.

Now that the September 2023 BDC Filing window is open service providers who are already licensees to use the FCC Fabric will receive an email from CostQuest providing them with access to the updated data on a rolling basis. (This email has been sent by CostQuest to FCC Fabric licensees.) Per the FCC’s public notice, “Entities that have not yet entered into a license agreement with CostQuest for Fabric data (including internet service providers, state, local, or Tribal governmental entities, or other entities wishing to use the Fabric data for purposes of participating in the BDC or non-commercial academic/public policy broadband research) may do so by following the instructions for obtaining access to the Fabric at the BDC Help Center” or on the second half of this web page.

The FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric is “a key component of the BDC program because the Fabric data serves as the foundation on which fixed broadband providers’ availability data will be overlaid” on top of the Fabric locations to create their BDC Filings. The FCC Fabric in combination with broadband service availability data submitted by service providers in the BDC allows the FCC to create the National Broadband Map, to develop a granular picture of where broadband service is and most importantly, where it isn’t.

Follow the link below for more information about the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric licensing and data use rights.

Fabric updates

The FCC Fabric location database has been updated (Fabric Version 3) and contains data from additional sources, as well as improvements and updates made by the FCC BDC Challenge Process and CostQuest’s internal improvement efforts. The updated FCC Fabric Version 3 data includes additional Broadband Serviceable Locations, a secondary addresses list, as well as corrections to addresses, unit counts, building types, land use, and geographic coordinates. It also includes the results of the bulk FCC Fabric challenges submitted by state, tribal, local governments, broadband providers, and individual challenges through the FCC National Broadband Map.

Click here for more information about the changes between Fabric Version 2 and Version 3.

Click here to review the Fabric change reports and access the Fabric Challenge data that was submitted through the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection.

Click here for more information about what version of the Fabric you should use.

Expanded FCC Fabric use rights

In November of 2022, the FCC and CostQuest announced that designated government entities can get access to the FCC Fabric data to support State Broadband Mapping efforts, and other designated entities can get access to the data to support the BDC and FCC Fabric Challenge Process. Follow the link below for more information on the expansion of FCC Fabric data usage rights.

The FCC Fabric & National Broadband Map are two different items

It’s important to note the FCC Fabric and FCC National Broadband Map are two separate deliverables and not the same thing. The FCC Fabric is a piece of the FCC’s process to create their National Broadband Maps. The FCC combines the Fabric location data and broadband service availability data submitted by service providers in their processes to produce their broadband maps.

How the BDC Process works

The Broadband Data Collection (BDC) process works to gather the necessary location information and ISP’s service availability data to create the underlying data to create the National Broadband Map.

To start the Broadband Data Collection process, CostQuest delivers the FCC Fabric data to the FCC and to BDC Filers (Internet Service Providers, ISPs). BDC Filers then use the FCC Fabric data as a basis to overlay their service availability data on top of the locations in the Fabric to create their BDC Filing and then they submit their filing into the Broadband Data Collection system. The FCC then uses the service availability data submitted into the BDC by BDC Filers in combination with the FCC Fabric data, to create the underlying data in the FCC’s National Broadband Map to represent where filers report broadband services are available for each individual location.

CostQuest has no role in collecting service availability data from the BDC or the creation and management of the FCC’s National Broadband Map. See the table below for more clarification on CostQuest’s and FCC’s role in the BDC process:

More FCC Fabric information

1) How to access the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric

2) FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric data sources and methodology 

3) Specifications and reminders from the FCC about BDC Filings 

1) How to access the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric

To get access to the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric data, eligible providers must execute a license agreement with CostQuest Associates to get access to the Fabric data. Please email nbfsupport@costquest.com if you need assistance or have any questions about accessing the Fabric.

Per the FCC’s First Fabric Public Notice, “each company’s data will contain Fabric records only for the counties that overlap the Census Blocks reported in the filer’s Form 477 fixed broadband deployment data.”

How to access the FCC Fabric: Step-by-step 

For Service Providers

According to the FCC’s website, service providers need to:

1. Send an email to CostQuest at nbfsupport@costquest.com with the name and email of the provider’s contact person, the provider’s name, and the provider’s FCC Registration Number (FRN).  You will be able to access the Fabric faster if the contract person provided in the email is someone who can sign the Fabric license agreement on behalf of the company.
2. CostQuest will email the contact person identified in Step 1 further instructions and a link to CostQuest’s website to create a user account.  Providers that did not file Form 477 in 2021 will first need to complete CostQuest’s “Add New Entity” form using the link provided in the email. 
3. Create a user account – email and password – within CostQuest’s help desk system. Note: This is a unique account, not tied to any other existing FCC accounts.
4. If you are authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company (you’re the licensee), skip to step six. If you are not authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company, submit the contact information for the individual with that authority using the Add Licensee form available in the Request Your Data section of the help desk.  To complete the form, you will need (a) the Name of the Licensee and (b) the Email address of the Licensee. 
5. After submitting the Add Licensee form, you can’t immediately proceed further since only the licensee may request the license.  After you complete the Add Licensee form, the Licensee will receive an email with instructions to set up an account within 1-2 days. Once this email is received, the Licensee can request a license.
6. If you are authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company, submit a License Request form, available under the “Request Your Data” section, “Step 1: Request a License” link of the help desk.  To complete the request, you’ll need the following info:
   • Name; 
   • Title; 
   • Principal Place of Business Address; 
   • Phone Number; 
   • Name and email address of an administrator who can add other recipients or counties covered by the license; and  
   • Contact information for data recipients receiving access to the data file.
7. After the License Request form is submitted, the Licensee will receive a confirmation email.  
8. CostQuest will validate the request and if it’s free of exceptions or errors, CostQuest will prepare the license and email a validation notification with links to access the license agreement.  If CostQuest discovers errors or incomplete information on the form, they will reach out to the requestor for clarification.  Assuming the request form is complete, the expected time from the license request to receipt of an electronic license is 1-2 business days.
9. Sign the agreement via an electronic signature platform. Once that’s done, CostQuest will send a copy of the completed agreement within 1-3 business days. CostQuest will also prepare the data file, and you will receive a link to access the data through the help desk system within 1-2 business days.
10. The link to download the data file will be emailed to the license requestor, the administrator, and any recipients associated with the holding company as listed in the license request form. 

Any questions about accessing the license agreement or how to access the Fabric data should be addressed to CostQuest at NBFsupport@costquest.com.  

for State, Local, and Tribal Governments

According to the FCC’s website, government entities need to:

1. If you do not already have one, obtain an FCC username and password, and an FCC Registration Number (FRN) for your entity, in CORES (Commission Registration System). When creating your FRN, you must select the Entity Type that matches your government type (Federal, State/Local, or Tribal). 
2. Log in the BDC system at bdc.fcc.gov using your CORES username and password.
3. After logging in, you should see any FRNs associated with your username.  Click on the FRN for the governmental entity that is seeking access to the Fabric dataset. 
4. That will take you to the Entity Information page in the BDC system.  Enter the required information.  Note that the Government Entity type selected on that page must match the Government Entity type selected when registering the FRN in CORES in step 1. If you wish to access the Fabric in order to submit challenges to the Fabric or fixed availability data, and do not plan to submit verified data on broadband availability, select only the “Bulk Crowdsourced / Challenge Data” option.
5. FCC staff will review the information and provide the contact information of approved entities to CostQuest.  
6. Within 3-5 business days, CostQuest will email you (or the Certifying Official identified in step 4) further instructions and a link to CostQuest’s website to create a user account.   
7. Create a user account – email and password – within CostQuest’s help desk system.   
   Note: This is a unique account, not tied to any other existing FCC accounts. 
8. If you are authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company, skip to step 9.  If you are not authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company, submit the contact information for the individual with that authority using the Add Licensee form in the Request Your Data section of the CostQuest help desk.  To complete the form, you will need:
   • the Name of the Licensee
   • the Email address of the Licensee.
9. After submitting the Add Licensee form, you can’t immediately proceed further since only the licensee may request the license. After you complete the Add Licensee form, the Licensee will receive an email with instructions to set up an account within 1-2 days.  Once this email is received, the Licensee can request a license. 
10. If you are authorized to sign a license on behalf of your company, submit a License Request form, available under the “Request Your Data” section, “Step 1: Request a License” link of the help desk. To complete the request, you’ll need the following info:
    • Name
    • Title 
    • Address 
    • Phone Number 
    • Name and email address of an administrator who can add other recipients or counties covered by the license 
    • Contact information for data recipients receiving access to the data file
11. After the License Request form is submitted, the Licensee will receive a confirmation email. 
12. CostQuest will validate the request and if it’s free of exceptions or errors, CostQuest will prepare the license and email a validation notification with links to access the license agreement. If CostQuest discovers errors or incomplete information on the form, they will reach out to the requestor for clarification. Assuming the request form is complete, the expected time from the license request to receipt of an electronic license is 1-2 business days. 
13. Sign the agreement via an electronic signature platform. Once that’s done, CostQuest will send a copy of the completed agreement within 1-3 business days. CostQuest will also prepare the preliminary data file, and you will receive a link to access the data through the help desk system within 1-2 business days. 
14. The link to download the data file will be emailed to the license requestor, the administrator, and any recipients associated with the holding company as listed in the license request form. 

Any questions about accessing the license agreement or how to access the Fabric data should be addressed to CostQuest at NBFsupport@costquest.com.  For information about the Fabric, see What is the Location Fabric?

For Other Designated Entities

According to the FCC’s website, “Entities that are not broadband service providers or governments can now access the FCC’s Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric) under a new license agreement established by the FCC and its Fabric contractor, CostQuest. Governmental entities and broadband service providers can obtain access to the Fabric data for their jurisdictions or service areas under a different license agreement.

The FCC also states, “License requests will be processed as quickly as possible, but how quickly depends on the number of pending requests. Due to this, delivery of the data may take up to two weeks from the time your entity information is submitted. 

1. If you do not already have one, obtain an FCC username and password, and an FCC Registration Number (FRN) for your entity, in CORES (Commission Registration System).  When creating your FRN, you must select the Entity Type that matches your company or organization; do not select “Individual.”
2. Log into the BDC system at http://bdc.fcc.gov using your CORES username and password.
3. After logging in, you should see FRNs associated with your username.  Click on the FRN for the entity seeking access to the Fabric dataset.
4. That will take you to the Entity Information page in the BDC system, where you must enter the required information.
   • Be sure to select only the “Bulk Crowdsourced / Challenge Data” option and not the option to submit broadband availability data.
5. FCC staff will review the information and provide your contact information to CostQuest. 
6. Within 5 business days, CostQuest will email the Certifying Official identified in step 4 further instructions and a link to CostQuest’shelp desk website where you can create a user account.  
7. Create a user account – email and password – within CostQuest’s help desk system.
   • Note: This is a unique account and is not tied to any other existing FCC accounts.
8. In the CostQuest help desk system, submit a Tier 4 Submission form, available under the “Request Your Data” section, “Tier 4 Licensing Process” link of the help desk. To complete the request, you’ll need the following information:
   • Address of the entity’s principal office;
   • Name, email address, and title of the person who will sign the license;
   • Name, email address, and phone number of an administrator who can add other recipients or counties covered by the license;
   • Contact information for data recipients receiving access to the data file;
   • The geographic area for which you require Fabric data; and
   • Summary information on how the requested Fabric data may be used for BDC purposes.
9. After the Tier 4 Submission form is submitted, the requestor will receive a confirmation email. 
10. CostQuest will validate the request as quickly as possible and, absent any exceptions or errors, will prepare the license and email a validation notification to the licensee with links to access the electronic license agreement. If there are errors or incomplete information on the Tier 4 Submission form, CostQuest will contact the requestor for clarification or more information.
11. The licensee should sign the license agreement via the electronic signature platform. Once signed, CostQuest will send a copy of the completed license agreement to the licensee within 1-3 business days. 
12. After the license is signed, CostQuest will also prepare the Fabric data file, and the contacts listed on the Tier 4 Submission form– the licensee, the administrator, and data recipients – will receive a link to access the data within 1-2 business days.  

Any questions about accessing the license agreement or how to access the Fabric data should be addressed to CostQuest at NBFsupport@costquest.com. For information about the Fabric, see What is the Location Fabric? and the Fabric FAQs.”

2) The FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric data sources and methodology

The data sources that will be used to identify locations (including Broadband Serviceable Locations) listed in the FCC Fabric include a combination of: 

• Parcels
• Satellite Imagery 
• Building Footprints 
• Address databases 
• Land and Tax Attributes
• Roads
• Other sources that the vendor finds as either necessary or beneficial for determining the locations of structures throughout the U.S. where fixed broadband service can be installed 

To learn more about the development methods for the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, visit the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric Methods Manual linked below.

3) Specifications from the FCC on BDC submissions 

“Filers seeking to submit lists of addresses or locations, as opposed to submitting availability polygons, will need to match their location data to locations in the Fabric.”

It is required that providers associate their location availability data to the Commission-issued Location IDs in the Fabric to be consistent with the Broadband Data Act (BDA) requirements. Submitting the Location ID for each of their Broadband Serviceable Locations will ensure that the Commission will collect availability data that “can be georeferenced to the data in the Fabric” and will result in a more accurate and complete broadband locations database. 

Notes from the FCC 

In the FCC’s public notice, they stated, “We encourage filers to submit their June 30, 2023, availability data as early as possible in the filing window. This will give filers an opportunity to address any problems with their data identified by the BDC system in time to make any necessary corrections in advance of the September 1, 2023, deadline. Failure to timely file required data in the new BDC system may lead to enforcement action and/or penalties as set forth in the Communications Act and other applicable laws.

For additional information and questions regarding the Broadband Data Collection, please visit the BDC website at https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData.”

General FCC Fabric resources

Video tutorials

Have questions? 

If you have any questions regarding the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection Process, please submit a request to the BDC Help Center.

For questions specific to the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, such as licensing, please contact the National Broadband Fabric Support Team.

For answers to common questions about the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, please visit the Fabric FAQ page.

To see the official FCC release about the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, please visit the FCC’s website to read the full Public Notice.

Disclaimer

This communication does not reflect the opinion or the policy of the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC is not responsible for the information or views in this communication and is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of such information or views.

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