(a) After consultation with the Federal Geographic Data Committee, the Commission shall use the availability and quality of service data submitted by providers in the Digital Opportunity Data Collection to create:

(1) The Broadband Map, which shall depict areas of the country that remain unserved by providers and depict the extent of availability of broadband internet access service;

(2) A map that depicts the availability of fixed broadband internet access service; and

(3) A map that depicts the availability of mobile broadband internet access service.

(b) The Commission shall use the maps created in paragraph (a) of this section to determine areas where broadband internet access service is and is not available and when making any funding award for broadband internet access service deployment for residential and mobile customers.

(c) Based on the most recent Digital Opportunity Data Collection information collected from providers, the Commission shall update the maps created in paragraph (a) of this section at least biannually using the data collected from providers.

(d)

(1) The Commission shall develop a process through which it can collect verified data for use in the coverage maps from:

(i) State, local, and Tribal entities primarily responsible for mapping or tracking broadband internet access service coverage in their areas;

(ii) Third parties, if the Commission determines it is in the public interest to use their data in the development of the coverage maps or the verification of data submitted by providers; and

(iii) Other Federal agencies.

(2) Such government entities and third parties shall follow the same filing process as providers submitting their broadband internet access service data in the Digital Opportunity Data Collection portal.

[85 FR 50907, Aug. 18, 2020]