The Importance of Accurate Data for Federal Funding
In 2022, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which included $42.5 billion for states to spend on broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Each state will receive funding from BEAD and will be responsible for planning and allocating funds to provide 100/20 internet speeds to underserved areas within their jurisdiction. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will distribute the funding to state broadband offices, who will then distribute the money to service providers in underserved regions.
The NTIA will use federal broadband mapping to distribute the funds to the states, and likewise, the states will use these same maps in conjunction with their own to distribute money to the individual ISPs. These maps are crucial, because if an area is inaccurately considered “served,” it won’t qualify for these federal grants, leaving people who lack standard broadband speeds behind. With funding being distributed based on these maps, any inaccuracies could result in eligible areas being left out and underserved areas being overlooked.
Accurate speed data is crucial for ISPs as it allows them to provide better services, adhere to regulatory standards, differentiate themselves in a competitive market, and increase their chances of receiving federal and state funding.
Advanced Technologies and Service, Inc. has conducted millions of speed and latency tests for service providers across the United States to support federal programs such as the Connect America Fund (CAF) and A-CAM. Our testing solutions have aided ISPs in maintaining regulatory compliance and achieving optimal network performance. As pioneers in performance testing programs, we possess specialized expertise in communication regulatory compliance. We’re excited to take on new projects dedicated to BEAD and RDOF funding.
Pre-Application Performance Testing
As new funding enters the market, competition increases, prompting the broadband industry to prioritize data-driven decisions. Our solutions can provide the necessary tools to help providers and officials make informed choices before they apply for funding.
Benchmark Data Collection
Conduct tests within a specified service area to gather accurate and reliable performance data using proven methods based on FCC guidelines.
Speed Challenges
Challenge claimed speeds from federal and state maps by comparing them with actual speed data to ensure that your service areas are accurately represented.
Supplement Application Data
Verifying your internet speeds with an independent study can provide reliable evidence to support your grant application and improve your chances of success.
Using Speed Data as Bulk Challenge Evidence
Mapping challenges assist the efforts to improve the accuracy and completeness of the federal and state broadband coverage maps, which are used to determine which areas of the United States have access to high-speed internet and which areas do not. While broadband coverage maps are useful for identifying which areas are likely to have high-speed internet service available, they do not always accurately reflect the actual speed and quality of that service. Speed tests are important to mapping challenges because they provide valuable evidence about the actual speed and quality of broadband service in a particular area.
The two main entities that will benefit from hard data to back up their challenges are:
Service Providers
Service ProvidersBy collecting speed test data from individuals, businesses, and organizations in a specific area, ISPs can create a more detailed and accurate map of their broadband coverage. This can help with making better-informed decisions about where to invest in infrastructure and where additional support may be needed.
State and County offices
State and County officesSpeed tests can help to identify areas where internet speeds are slower than advertised or where there are other issues that may be affecting the quality of broadband service. This information can be useful for state offices that are working to identify key areas for funding to improve broadband access in local communities.
Easy, Accurate, and Compliant Speed Tests
Our ATS Specialists manage every aspect of our tests so that all you need to focus on is receiving the data formatted to your specifications and submitting it as evidence for your challenge. Additionally, our speed tests offer more than just speed and latency data; they can provide other valuable insights into your network to reveal other performance-related problems affecting your end users. As a result, our speed tests come with a range of added features, some of which are highlighted on the right.
Live Dashboard
Track your speed and latency testing in real-time through our managed dashboard to monitor each location’s Quality of Service (QoS).
Cross-Talk Mitigation
Our speed tests incorporate measures that account for cross-talk, providing an accurate picture of the actual speeds of end-users.
Troubleshooting
Pinpoint hops in your network where slowdowns are occurring by analyzing speed measurements taken at various points.
Automated Testing
All testing procedures are streamlined and automated, with scheduled tests generating formatted results that are promptly sent back to the provider.
Contact Us To Get Started
ATS has 25 years of experience in analytics for communications providers ranging from the biggest ILECs in North and South America, to dozens of smaller ISPs in Rural America that are helping to bridge the digital divide. We are constantly leading the charge in new innovation that can help both large and small companies leverage their data to give their customers the best possible experience. Get in touch with us today for a demo to learn more about how our testing services can benefit you.