Below is a quick breakdown of the key filing deadlines, requirements, and other critical information to help you prepare your filings for the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) and USAC’s High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal.
FCC’s Broadband Data Collection
The Broadband Data Collection (BDC) program will supply the FCC, communications industry, state, local, and Tribal government entities, and consumers with the tools they need to improve the accuracy of existing broadband maps. All facilities-based broadband providers are required to file data with the FCC twice a year.
BDC Guide:
USAC’s HUBB portal
Providers participating in modernized funds must file deployment data with the High Cost Universal Broadband portal (HUBB), showing where they are building out mass-market, high-speed Internet service using CAF & RDOF support.
HUBB Guide:
Broadband Data Collection Filing requirements:
BDC filing deadlines
September 1st, 2022 & March 1st, 2023
Facilities-based providers of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access who have one or more end-user connections in service on June 30, 2022, must file into the Broadband Data Collection by September 1st, 2022.
- The Broadband Data Collection system will open on June 30, 2022.
- The FCC’s Broadband Data Collection will still happen twice a year on the same schedule as Form 477 filings.
- Data as of June 30th, 2022 will be due the following September 1st,2022, and data as of December 31st, 2022 will be due on March 1st, 2023
How do I file?
- Go to the Broadband Data Collection system at https://bdc.fcc.gov/
- You will either submit data in the BDC system via file upload and/or web form or submit data using an Application Programming Interface (API).
- Visit the BDC System User Guide at https://us-fcc.app.box.com/v/bdc-filer-user-guide which contains instructions on how to use the optional API (application programming interface), and other technical assistance resources to assist filers.
Who has to file?
- Providers of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access who have one or more end users in service on June 30, 2022.
- If you are required to file FCC Form 477 you must also submit data to the BDC
See more details for BDC filers.
Who else can file?
- Federal agencies, state, local, and Tribal governmental entities in charge of mapping or tracking broadband internet access service coverage in their areas, can submit verified availability data as of June 30, 2022.
- Third parties who want to submit verified broadband availability data as of June 30, 2022.
- These parties can also submit data as part of the BDC challenge and crowdsource processes.
What do I need to file?
At stated on the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection Information for Filers web page, any individual submitting information in the BDC system, either on behalf of a service provider
or as a governmental or third-party entity, must submit the following information about
themself and the entity for which they are submitting data:
- Each BDC filing must include information about the filer, broadband availability data (including supporting data), and – for broadband providers – Form 477 broadband subscription data.
- Fixed wireline and satellite broadband service providers must submit either polygon shapefiles or a list of locations that constitute the service area of the provider. See BDC Availability Data Specifications Section 6 for more info.
- Fixed wireless broadband service providers must submit either propagation maps and propagation model details or a list of locations that constitute the service area of the provider. See BDC Availability Data Specifications Sections 6 and 7 for more info.
- Mobile wireless broadband service providers must submit propagation maps and propagation model details for each network technology and both outdoor stationary and in-vehicle mobile network coverage. In addition, mobile wireless broadband service providers must also submit signal strength heat map data. See BDC Availability Data Specifications Sections 8 and 9 for more info.
- Fixed broadband service providers may now access the FCC’s Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric Data to match their availability data to the location IDs represented in the Fabric.
- If you are a provider of both broadband and voice services (a local telephone service provider, a facilities-based provider of mobile telephony service, or a provider of interconnected voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service – see https://us-fcc.app.box.com/v/WhoMustFileForm477 for descriptions and definitions of each provider type), you also must file your Form 477 fixed and/or mobile voice subscription data in the BDC system. See BDC Availability Data Specifications Section 5 for more info.
- Providers of mobile voice service must file BDC mobile voice availability data in the BDC system. See BDC Availability Data Specifications Section 8.2 for more info.
- Data specifications for primary availability BDC filings are available here:
https://us-fcc.app.box.com/v/bdc-availability-spec
How do I get access to the FCC’s Fabric?
To request access to the FCC’s Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric) and start matching your availability data to the Broadband Serviceable Locations in the Fabric, please contact nbfsupport@costquest.com.
Broadband Data Collection Regulatory Filing Resources
For more resources on the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection visit the Broadband Data Collection Help Center. If you have questions email BroadbandDataInquiries@fcc.gov.
BDC Filing sections by provider type
Important information for Form 477 Filers
HUBB Regulatory Filing requirements:
1. File deployment data into the HUBB – Submit geocoded locations from the previous deployment year
2. Certify data by filing Form 481
3. Submit 54.314 certification
4. Submit performance measure testing
Keep in mind:
HUBB FILINGS REQUIRE LAT/LON COORDINATES
AND ADDRESSES
(OR TEXTUAL REFERENCES)
View USAC’s Annual Requirements for more details on filing requirements.
See guidelines for submitting data into USAC’s HUBB Portal.
HUBB Filing deadline:
March 1st, 2023
Participants in the following funding programs have until March 1st, 2023, to file data for all locations deployed with CAF support in 2022 or certify that they have “no locations to upload.”
- Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Original ACAM)
- Revised Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Revised ACAM)
- Alternative Connect America Cost Model II (ACAM II)
- Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS)
- Rural Broadband Experiments (RBE)
- Alaska Plan
- Connect America Fund Phase II Auction (CAF II Auction)
- Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF)
- Bringing Puerto Rico Together (Uniendo a Puerto Rico) Fund and the Connect the USVI Fund (PR/VI)
Carriers with 2022 deployment milestones must also complete milestone certifications as part of the annual HUBB filing – including separate milestone certifications for separate deployment obligations by speed tier – and will face verification reviews tied to those milestones.
View USAC guidelines for more information about HUBB Regulatory Filing requirements.
Disclaimer
This communication does not reflect the opinion of the Federal Communications Commission or Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC). The FCC or USAC 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.