[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 85635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28781]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WC Docket No. 19-195, 11-10; DA 20-1460; FRS 17313]


Office of Economics and Analytics Reminds Providers That Form 477 
Mobile Speed and Coverage Data Are Not Confidential

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this Public Notice, the Office of Economics and Analytics 
(Office) reminds mobile broadband service providers that their minimum 
advertised or expected speed data are not confidential on FCC Form 477, 
notwithstanding checkbox options in the Form 477 filing application.

DATES: The Commission issued this Public Notice on December 7, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Lynch, Chief, Industry 
Analysis Division, Office of Economics and Analytics, (202) 418-7356, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Economics and Analytics 
(Office) reminds mobile broadband service providers that their minimum 
advertised or expected speed data are no longer treated as confidential 
on FCC Form 477. Speed data will be included in the public releases of 
provider-specific coverage data, beginning with the December 2019 
filing.
    In the Digital Opportunity Data Collection First Report and Order, 
the Commission concluded that minimum advertised or expected speed data 
filed for mobile broadband services will not be treated as confidential 
and that such data will be publicly released. The Commission found that 
the bulk of speed data that providers filed had been treated as 
confidential and that such treatment ``unnecessarily limits the ability 
of consumers and policy makers to effectively analyze the data 
submitted.'' The Commission also concluded that public release of 
provider-specific coverage data is ``necessary to ensure that consumers 
can easily use the information that is disclosed to the public'' 
because speed data are ``only beneficial if consumers know where the 
service coverage is available.''
    The Commission already makes provider-specific coverage data 
publicly available on its website by publishing each provider's 
shapefiles, and Form 477 filers are no longer permitted to request 
confidential treatment for such information. As the Commission did not 
subsequently and immediately update the Form 477 filing application to 
remove the checkbox used to request confidential treatment of these 
data, some providers may mistakenly believe that confidentiality is 
available for such data.
    Accordingly, the Office reiterates that, notwithstanding the 
presence of the checkbox in the Form 477 filing application, the 
Commission has concluded that these data will not be treated as 
confidential. Moreover, the corresponding Form 477 information that was 
included in the December 2019 and June 2020 filings will be released no 
sooner than ten (10) days after Federal Register publication of this 
Public Notice.
    For further information, contact Kenneth Lynch, Chief, Industry 
Analysis Division, Office of Economics and Analytics, at 
[email protected].

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-28781 Filed 12-28-20; 8:45 am]
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