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Policy & Regulation

FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC)

The FCC's address-level broadband availability database that replaced the older Form 477 system. Collects data from every ISP twice a year covering over 116 million locations.

What It Means

The BDC was mandated by the Broadband DATA Act (2020) to fix the well-known inaccuracies of Form 477, which only reported broadband at the census-block level. The BDC requires ISPs to report exactly which addresses they can serve and what speeds are available. Consumers can challenge inaccurate data through the BDC website. This data is what the FCC uses to determine BEAD funding allocations, making accuracy critically important.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "FCC Broadband Data Collection" mean?

The FCC's address-level broadband availability database that replaced the older Form 477 system. Collects data from every ISP twice a year covering over 116 million locations.

Why does FCC Broadband Data Collection matter for internet quality?

The BDC was mandated by the Broadband DATA Act (2020) to fix the well-known inaccuracies of Form 477, which only reported broadband at the census-block level. The BDC requires ISPs to report exactly which addresses they can serve and what speeds are available. Consumers can challenge inaccurate data...

Related Terms

Broadband
High-speed internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up. The FCC defines broadband as a minimum of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload as of 2024.
Digital Divide
The gap between communities with access to fast, reliable, affordable internet and those without. Disproportionately affects rural, low-income, and tribal areas.
BEAD Program
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program — a $42.5 billion federal initiative to expand broadband access to underserved and unserved areas across all 50 states.
Net Neutrality
The principle that internet service providers must treat all internet traffic equally, without blocking, throttling, or prioritizing certain websites or services.

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About This Data

Definitions based on FCC standards, industry specifications, and federal broadband policy. Speed benchmarks reflect 2024 FCC standards. See our methodology.