Updated December 2025
CostQuest Associates (“CostQuest”) ® has long been a central player in the federal broadband infrastructure and regulatory strategy. In 2021, CostQuest was awarded a contract with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to fulfill requirements laid out in the Broadband Data Act to “create a common dataset of all locations in the U.S. where fixed broadband internet access service can be installed.” The effort to develop and maintain the Fabric, integrates parcel data, satellite imagery, building footprints, addresses, tax attributes, and more. The resulting inventory exceeds 115 million Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs), a foundational location dataset that all parties can use to make data driven decisions – known as the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric.
CostQuest’s Role in the FCC’s National Broadband Map and BDC Program
By supplying the BSL data – the underlying location information – for the FCC’s National Broadband Map, we ensure it reflects accurate, building-level information. A key partner in the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) program, the Fabric is used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to match the LocationID with their service information to report to the FCC. Using the Fabric and ISP reported information, the FCC creates the FCC’s National Broadband Map – a location-level map that identifies where broadband service is, and isn’t, available. Mapping broadband at the location level, rather than by census block, is a transformative step for the U.S. broadband ecosystem. By delivering precise location data, CostQuest data empowers the FCC and service providers to pinpoint unserved communities, allocate funding wisely, and accelerate broadband expansion.
While the Fabric is foundational to the National Broadband Map’s accuracy, CostQuest does not collect broadband service availability data or manage the map itself. Instead, ISPs submit their availability data to the FCC, which matches CostQuest’s Fabric. This partnership between the FCC, ISPs, and CostQuest underpins a more reliable broadband availability map.
Fabric Licensing, BDC Support, and Challenge Process Expertise
Beyond creating the Fabric, CostQuest provides licensing and technical support:
- Tier 2 and Tier 4 Licensing: We make Fabric data available to ISPs, state and tribal governments, and other eligible organizations.
- In September 2023, Tier 2 licensing was updated to allow Fabric-derived submissions for Universal Service Fund (USF) reporting obligations.
- These efforts reinforce our commitment to maintaining a trusted broadband expansion framework for all stakeholders.
Broadband Fabric in NTIA’s BEAD Program
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) adopted CostQuest’s Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric as the foundational dataset for the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. State and U.S. Territory broadband offices and ISPs rely on this Fabric data to identify both unserved and underserved locations in addition to defining designated project areas for broadband expansion strategies.
As Benefit of the Bargain BEAD awarded projects move into broadband deployment and funding disbursement, the Fabric will remain central for:
- Tracking buildout progress against precise BSL coordinates.
- Reconciling milestone reporting.
- Ensuring transparency and accountability for billions in federal investments.
By providing the baseline dataset, CostQuest’s Fabric enables NTIA, states and providers to ensure BEAD funds are directed efficiently, accelerating broadband expansion to communities most in need.
Universal Service Fund Contributions and Broadband Expansion Funding
CostQuest’s involvement in Universal Service Fund (USF) programs spans decades, directly supporting broadband expansion in rural and high-cost areas:
- CACM, ACAM and Enhanced ACAM Models: CostQuest developed the Connect America Cost Model (CACM) and the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM), which administers over $3 billion annually to carriers serving remote areas. Enhanced ACAM built on this success, aligning with evolving broadband performance requirements.
- USAC HUBB Integration: By integrating Fabric data into USAC’s HUBB system, CostQuest enables carriers to reconcile deployment filings with BDC/Fabric records for federal deployment compliance.
- RDOF, BEAD, CAF, E-Rate, and Lifeline: We supply geospatial insights, economic information, and advisory services for major broadband funding programs.
Commitment to Long-Term Broadband Expansion Goals
CostQuest remains a trusted partner to the Federal and State agencies and Internet Service Providers, providing the authoritative broadband foundational dataset, licensing under evolving regulatory frameworks, and supporting compliance processes critical for funding accountability. Our expertise and data help ensure that funding dedicated to broadband expansion is utilized in an informed manner. Through continued innovation and collaboration, CostQuest’s goal is to provide the data and expertise to help bring high-quality connectivity to all Americans.
Presentation: The Role of the National Fabric in Federal BEAD, BDC and Other Programs
Linked below is a presentation on “The Role of the National Fabric in Federal BEAD, BDC, and Other Programs,” where CostQuest team members Leslie Stegeman and Hailey Farrow discuss the national broadband mapping initiative that provides the location and coverage data behind federal broadband programs – keying in on the National Fabric data’s role in the NTIA’s BEAD, the FCC’s BDC, and other federal programs.
This presentation covers:
- Broadband Mapping – Initial Problem, Solution, and Results
- Fabric Overview – How the data is built and improved
- Fabric Versioning
- Fabric in BDC & FCC Programs
- Fabric in BEAD & Other Programs
- Fabric Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) in BEAD