How to Submit Challenges to FCC Broadband Map

This page will guide you through submitting corrections to the FCC National Broadband Map (known as challenges) for location and availability.

Posted Date: Aug 1, 2023

Screenshot of the FCC Broadband Map homepage.

Overview

Why submit a correction (challenge) to the map

Simply put: you deserve access to high-speed and reliable internet. Correcting the map to reflect your current internet situation will enable UH to better identify locations that need internet access and eventually build infrastructure to those locations in need. You can be a part of helping the State of Hawaii to bridge the digital divide.

Types of Challenges

There are four types of challenges you can make through the FCC National Broadband Map

  1. Missing Location
  2. Location
  3. Availability
  4. Mobile Coverage

This guide will only focus on the first three challenge types (Missing Location, Location, Availability).

For mobile coverage challenges, go to https://help.bdc.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/8779977939227-Mobile-Availability-Challenge-Resources (Link opens in a new tab)

How to Submit a Location Challenge

You can submit different challenges depending on the incorrect information. If more than one piece of information is incorrect, you will need to submit a challenge for each. For example, if the unit count and building type are incorrect for the address, you must submit one challenge to correct the unit count and submit another challenge to correct the building type.

Incorrect Location Address Challenge

If the dot on the map is correctly placed, but the address shown is incorrect, submit this challenge.

What you will need

  1. Your name
  2. A valid email address
  3. Documentation to support your challenge. This can be an image, PDF, or Word document.**

Instructions

  1. Fill out the form with your name, email address, and address information
  2. Consider using https://www.google.com/maps/ as documentation or one of the following links:

**Note that supporting documentation is optional in the form, but providing evidence may increase your chance of a successful challenge

Incorrect Location Unit Count Challenge

The unit count is the estimated number of units within the location. If this count is incorrect, submit this challenge.

What you will need

  1. Your name
  2. A valid email address
  3. Documentation to support your challenge. This can be an image, PDF, or Word document.**

Instructions

  1. Fill out the form with your name, email address, and unit count information

**Note that supporting documentation is optional in the form, but providing evidence may increase your chance of a successful challenge

Location is Not Within Correct Building Footprint Challenge

If the address is correct but the dot location is incorrect, submit this challenge. 

What you will need

  1. Your name
  2. A valid email address
  3. Documentation to support your challenge. This can be an image, PDF, or Word document.**

Instructions

  1. Fill out the form with your name and email
  2. Place a pin on the map where the correct location is for the address.
  3. Consider using https://www.google.com/maps/ as documentation.
Screenshot of a pin on a map to show the correct building location.

**Note that supporting documentation is optional in the form, but providing evidence may increase your chance of a successful challenge

Location is Not Broadband Serviceable

If the address would not be able to subscribe to a commercial residential or business internet plan, submit this challenge.

What you will need

  1. Your name
  2. A valid email address
  3. Documentation to support your challenge. This can be an image, PDF, or Word document.**

Instructions

  1. Fill out the form with your name and email
  2. You will need to select one of the following reasons why you believe the address is not broadband serviceable:
  • Location is a K-12 school, junior college, university (a Community Anchor Institution) that does/would not subscribe to a mass market service
  • Location is a library (a Community Anchor Institution) that does/would not subscribe to a mass market service
  • Location is a government building (a Community Anchor Institution) that does/would not subscribe to a mass market service
  • Location is a healthcare building (a Community Anchor Institution) that does/would not subscribe to a mass market service
  • Location is a public safety location (a Community Anchor Institution like Fire or EMS locations) that does/would not subscribe to a mass market service
  • This is an enterprise location that does/would not subscribe to a mass market service
  • Location lacks any source for electric power and should be removed from the Fabric entirely
  • Location no longer exists and should be removed from the Fabric
  • This is a location that does not require a network connection for another reason and should be removed from the Fabric

Consider using the location’s website as documentation.

**Note that supporting documentation is optional in the form, but providing evidence may increase your chance of a successful challenge

Add an Additional Address for the Location

If the dot on the map has another address that is not shown, submit this challenge.

What you will need

  1. Your name
  2. A valid email address
  3. Documentation to support your challenge. This can be an image, PDF, or Word document.**

Instructions

  1. Fill out the form with your name, email, and address information
  2. Consider using one of the following links for documentation

**Note that supporting documentation is optional in the form, but providing evidence may increase your chance of a successful challenge

Incorrect Location Building Type

If the building type is incorrect (for example, the location says “Business,” but should be “Residential”), submit this challenge.

What you will need

  1. Your name
  2. A valid email address
  3. Documentation to support your challenge. This can be an image, PDF, or Word document.**

Instructions

  1. Fill out the form with your name and email
  2. Select one of the following options as the correct building type:
  • Business – dedicated business building for one or more businesses in the building
  • Residential – residential housing
  • Business and Residential – the building is a location with a mixed-use purpose
  • Community Anchor Institution (CAI) – the building is a location that is generally considered a public institution such as a public school, public library, police station, fire station, hospital, etc.
  • Group Quarters (GQ) – Group quarters are defined as places where people live or stay in a group living arrangement that is owned or managed by an organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. GQs include such places as college residence halls, residential treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, military barracks, prisons and worker dormitories.
  • Enterprise – Larger business with many locations and a private phone network

**Note that supporting documentation is optional in the form, but providing evidence may increase your chance of a successful challenge

What happens next after submitting a location challenge

After submitting a challenge, you should receive an email from BroadbandMapNotifications@fcc.gov. Please forward the email to UH broadband@hawaii.edu with your Challenge ID so we can track this challenge for you.

BroadbandMapNotifications@fcc.gov. email content example screenshot after submitting a challenge

How to Submit an Availability Challenge

Internet service providers submit to the FCC information about locations that they provide service to. An availability challenge disputes the information shown about services offered at the location. Availability challenges can be made if one of the following applies:

  1. Provider failed to schedule a service installation within 10 business days of a request: The provider was unable to offer an installation date within 10 business days of the service request.
  2. Provider did not install the service at the agreed-upon time: The provider had scheduled an installation but failed to perform the install at the scheduled, agreed-upon date and time.  
  3. Provider requested more than the standard installation fee to connect this location: The provider quoted an amount in excess of the provider’s standard installation charge in order to connect service at the location.  
  4. Provider denied the request for service: A request for service via phone, the company’s website, or another method was denied.  
  5. Provider does not offer the technology reported to be available at this location: Service based on particular reported technology (fiber, cable, satellite) is not available at the location.  
  6. Provider does not offer the speeds(s) reported to be available at this location: The reported maximum advertised download and/or upload speed is not offered for purchase at the location.  This is distinct from the speed being delivered not matching the marketed speed.  
  7. *Subscribed Speed Not Achievable: Use this option if you have internet service but are not receiving the expected speeds.  Since the National Broadband Map shows information about available services, the FCC will treat challenges submitted in this category as a consumer complaint.
  8. No wireless or satellite signal is available at this location: The fixed wireless or satellite signal is not available at the challenged location, or the service could be oversubscribed in the area.
  9. Provider needed to construct new equipment at this location: Use this code if there are construction costs associated with connecting a satellite or fixed wireless service.  Fixed wireline construction costs should be filed under reason #3 above. 

What you will need

  1. Your name
  2. A valid email address
  3. Documentation to support your challenge depending on the selected reason. This can be an image, PDF, or Word document.**

To submit a challenge:

1. Select if you are challenging Residential or Business information

Highlight residential or business option in available providers section of FCC website

2. Select the row of the internet service provider’s service you are challenging

Selected row of internet service provdier for availability challenge.

3. Select “Send my challenge to the selected provider” option. This will send this challenge to the internet service provider to respond to your challenge.

Send my challenge to the selected provider option selection

4. Fill out the form with your name, email address, and select one of the challenge reasons above

Form with name, email, optional phone number
Form showing the drop down of reasons for an availability challenge

5. Upload evidence for your challenge**

6. Check the checkbox to certify your information provided 

7. Submit

**Note that supporting documentation is optional in the form, but providing evidence may increase your chance of a successful challenge

What happens next after submitting an availability challenge

After submitting a challenge, you should receive an email from BroadbandMapNotifications@fcc.gov. Please forward the email to UH broadband@hawaii.edu with your Challenge ID so we can track this challenge for you.

BroadbandMapNotifications@fcc.gov. email content example screenshot after submitting a challenge

How to Submit a Missing Location Challenge

If the address is missing from the FCC’s National Broadband Map, click to learn how to file a missing location challenge.

Learn more about submitting Missing Location Challenge

Other Resources