At Commerce Hearing, Fischer Highlights Need for FCC Action on Broadband Mapping, Network Outages

Click here to watch Senator Fischer's exchange.

Segments of Senator Fischer's exchange are available below:

Senator Fischer: Mr. Law, as you might know, the FCC updated its rules for reporting major network outages among the FCC, states, and federal agencies in March. Information sharing is critical for managing threats to network infrastructure and restoring services. Do you feel there is enough communication between the FCC and states to quickly respond to these network outages?

Mr. Denny Law: Thank you, Senator. I think there is more that could be done in terms of both the channels of communications as well as substance of information as it relates to the network outage reporting as well as the disaster information reporting system. I think there could be improvement. Do I think they're necessarily bad? No. But they could be improved to provide better visibility to states as well as consumers.

Senator Fischer: A fundamental consideration for our conversation here today is knowing the actual scope and reach of our fixed and mobile broadband networks. I know it gets mentioned a lot in these hearings, but broadband mapping and ensuring the FCC uses the most reliable data available affect many of these related issues. Mr. Law, could you touch on the importance of broadband mapping and the timing of updating those maps at the FCC as it relates to building resilient networks and beyond? Shouldn't we have the most up-to-date and reliable information before we start putting money out there to deploy broadband?

Mr. Law: I absolutely agree, Senator Fischer, that it is highly important that we know both where broadband service is available and what it's capable of, and more importantly where it's not- and where the places are that we need to fill in. Maps are always an interesting exercise-they are a snapshot in time. It is hard to make them dynamic. However, I am hopeful the FCC continues to improve its process to develop, generate, and deploy those maps. And as a small rural provider we've certainly tried to do our part providing the FCC with timely information to reflect that.

More information:

Today's hearing included the following witnesses:

• Mr. Harold Feld, Senior Vice President, Public Knowledge
• Mr. Jonathan Adelstein, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wireless Infrastructure Association
• Mr. Denny Law, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Golden West Telecommunications, Wall, South Dakota
• Mr. Jeff Johnson, Chief Executive, Western Fire Chiefs Association

Senator Fischer has long advocated for expanding rural broadband access and has highlighted the need for new, more precise broadband coverage data. Last year, she cosponsored the Broadband Data Act. This legislation, which has been signed into law, improves the accuracy of FCC broadband availability maps by strengthening the process by which broadband data is collected. Read more about that bill here.