Nevada County Broadband Committee
Nevada County, Arkansas

Home Internet Service Providers FCC Maps Links & Resources


Maps, the Challenge Process, and the BEAD Grant Award Process



This page is a historical reference to how the Nevada County Broadband Committee worked with the Arkansas Broadband Office in completing the map challenges part of the BEAD Grant Program.
Most of the notes and hyperlinks in this page are no longer useful.


ARConnect, the Arkansas State Broadband Office, determines which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) receive grants from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to build internet infrastructure and at what locations.

Maps from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration BEAD Program (NTIA), the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) (updated every six months) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are the underlying resources that ARConnect is using to create their map that leads to bidding and eventually the awarding of grants that fund the building of internet infrastructure to every location.

Check Your Dot!
The Arkansas Broadband Office, ARConnect, has a map.
The map shows internet service available at each location and is the guideline for awarding BEAD funding in 2024 to build internet access.

ARConnect Speed Test
Do these tests if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) promises (on your internet bill) speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, but does not deliver that speed.
Opens in new browser window. On that page, tap "Start the Test".
Overview: Required: Technically: The Questions Asked Then What? Arkansas is one of only a few states providing individuals with a way to participate in the challenge process.

Summary:

By Federal Law, only certain persons are allowed to make the official "challenge". The Nevada County Broadband Committee can be the liaison between an individual and those persons.

If you would like to view the meetings of the Arkansas Broadband Office, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/@ARConnectASBO

Here are the key factors in the "challenge" process, followed by a description of the underlying FCC maps and the data contained on them.

ARConnect Map "Challenges"



One of the most important aspects of the "access" pillar of broadband for a county broadband committee is an understanding of which locations in the county have broadband access and which locations do not, according to federal and state mapping. If these maps are not correct, under-connected neighbors and businesses may not get broadband access.

ARconnect, which is implementing the BEAD program in Arkansas, is using the FCC, BDC and NTIA maps of locations as the guideline for funding. The ARConnect map is released to the general public to view for one week prior to being released to participants in the "challenge process". Location are marked as "served", "underserved", or "unserved". A process is being set up to "challenge" the map data for a location . That way, ARConnect can get the maps right for funding.

Broadband Mapping Challenge Process
The process relies upon this map, color-coded as follows: ARConnect wants to know if this information is incorrect: If a location does not have a dot, the "challenge" process does not have capability to correct that problem. We can only hope that an ISP in your area will provide service to you.

The BEAD Program Volume I outlines the grounds for challenges and comments:
  1. Planned or Existing Service: Locations where broadband service currently or will soon be deployed (not funded by federal or state grants)
    Essentially, The challenger has knowledge that broadband will be deployed at this location by June 30, 2024, without an enforceable commitment or a provider is building out broadband offering performance beyond the requirements of an enforceable commitment.
    This is an ISP-level challenge, and since ISPs are permitted to make challenges, this is beyond the role of the local broadband committee.
  2. Enforceable Commitment: Locations marked as funded, but are actually outside the grant money that was awarded.
    Essentially, the challenger has knowledge that broadband will be deployed at this location by the date established in the deployment obligation.
    This is an ISP-level challenge, and since ISPs are permitted to make challenges, this is beyond the role of the local broadband committee.
  3. Provider Service Level: Locations where the available broadband service shown on the map is incorrect (Availability, Speed, Latency, Data Cap, Technology
    Here are the grounds on which "Provider Service Level" can be challenged:
    • Availability: The broadband service identified is not offered at the location, including a unit of a multiple dwelling unit (MDU).
      Examples of Documentation Required:
      • Screenshot of provider webpage.
      • A service request was refused within the last 180 days (e.g., an email or letter from provider).
      • Lack of suitable infrastructure (e.g., no fiber on pole).
      • A letter or email dated within the last 365 days that a provider failed to schedule a service installation or offer an installation date within 10 business days of a request.
      • A letter or email dated within the last 365 days indicating that a provider requested more than the standard installation fee to connect this location or that a Provider quoted an amount in excess of the provider standard installation charge in order to connect service at the location.
      This is the challenge for when the map shows "Served" and the location is actually "Unserved" or "underserved".
    • Speed: The actual speed of the service tier falls below the unserved or underserved thresholds.
      Examples of Documentation Required:
      • Speed test by subscriber, showing the insufficient speed and meeting the requirements for speed tests.
      • ARConnect provides a speed and latency test suite that gathers required documentation. Complete the online test at least 3 times over a 7-day period, enter required information, and upload a copy of the internet bill in order to create a challenge.
      This is the challenge for when the speed test shows a measurement of speed between a device and a test server, using a device's internet connection, and that speed does not meet 80% of the 100/20 minimum.
    • Latency: The round-trip latency of the broadband service exceeds 100 ms.
      Examples of Documentation Required:
      • Speed test by subscriber, showing the excessive latency.
      • ARConnect provides a speed and latency test suite that gathers required documentation. Complete the online test at least 3 times over a 7-day period and enter required information in order to create a challenge.
      This is the challenge for really slow responses after the time of request.
    • Data Caps: The only service plans marketed to consumers impose an unreasonable capacity allowance data cap on the consumer.
      Examples of Documentation Required:
      • Screenshot of provider webpage.
      • Service description provided to consumer
      This challenge is appropriate when the internet service provider (ISP) imposes a limit on the amount of data that a consumer can use, typically less than 600GB per month before overage charges are added.
    • Technology: The technology indicated for this location is incorrect. For example, provider says fiber is available but installs DSL or cable.
      Examples of Documentation Required:
      • Manufacturer and model number of residential gateway (CPE) that demonstrates the service is delivered via a specific technology.
      If the infrastructure (copper, coaxial cable, fiber, pole, etc.) is not available at the location, or if costs quoted by an ISP are above the "normal" costs of installation.
    • Business Service Only: The location is residential, but the service offered is marketed or available only to businesses
      Examples of Documentation Required:
      • Screenshot of provider webpage.
      This is the challenge for residences who can get only higher-priced business services.
    Challenges can be made only by elected officials (members of the General Assembly, County Judges, Mayors, Justices of the Peace, City Council members, and School Board members).
  4. Community Anchor Institution Classification: Locations that are incorrectly classified as CAIs or not classified as CAIs. Also, where availability of 1GB service to a CAI is incorrect
    Examples of CAIs include school, library, health clinic, health center) that facilitates greater use of broadband service by vulnerable populations. See requirement 6 of the BEAD document further details.
    Here are the grounds on which "CAI" can be challenged:
    • Location is a CAI: The location should be classified as a CAI.
      Examples of Documentation Required:
      • Evidence that the location falls within the definitions of CAIs set by the Eligible Entity.
    • Location is not) a CAI: The location is currently labeled as a CAI but is a residence, a non-CAI business, or is no longer in operation.
      Examples of Documentation Required:
      • Evidence that the location does not fall within the definitions of CAIs set by the Eligible Entity or is no longer in operation.
    This is an CAI-level challenge. CAIs are permitted to make challenges.

Preview of Challenge Map: March 12, 2024 - March 19, 2024
Challenge Phase: March 20, 2024 - April 18, 2024
Rebuttal Phase: April 19, 2024 - May 18, 2024
Adjudication Phase: May 19, 2024 - June 17, 2024
Grants are expected to be made around the first of 2025 with up to three years to buiid. Note that already-awarded grants, such as those from the Rural Digital Equity Fund (RDOF), which have been awarded for most of Nevada County currently in "under-served" or "unserved" areas, are due for completion before the end of 2025.

The Nevada County Broadband Committee Can Help



The Nevada County Broadband Committee can facilitate non-profit and individuals wishing to make challenges.

Please note the ARConnect Challenge Map provides a speed and latency test suite that self-documents most everything needed for a service-level challenge. Please complete that test and you won't need the assistnace of the committee!

In order to create other challenges, the documentation described above, along with the following, is required:


FCC Maps



Two maps form the basis for the ARConnect map described above. These are NOT the maps to challenge in March-April 2024. Even though the significance of these maps is now diminished, they are listed here for reference since they form the basis of the "challenge map".

FCC Current Availability Map


The FCC has collected data from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). That data is the basis for determining the internet service level at each location. Visit https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/
Here are some notes that may be useful in using the map:

FCC Funding Awarded Map


The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has collected data from many sources that have provided funding to build internet infrastructure.
Visit https://fundingmap.fcc.gov/
The maps shows Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that have been awarded funding:


NevCoNet Maps



The Nevada County Broadband Committee has created some maps to assist us in the challenge process.



Content on this web site is coordinated by Co-Chairpersons:

Ricky Reyenga, Nevada County Treasurer, NevadaCountyTreasurer@outlook.com


Mary Godwin, Director, Nevada County Economic Development Office, MGodwin@PNPartnership.org


Website by Danny Stewart, DStewart@DannyAStewart.com