NINE ISPs LEARN THE FCC’S GOLDEN RULE: SUBMIT OR PAY
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued Notices of Apparent Liability (NAL) to nine internet service providers for failing to provide critical data on broadband coverage. The companies face penalties for not complying with federal data reporting requirements, marking the first instance of such enforcement actions.
The companies under scrutiny include National Telecom, LLC, Centex Web Access, Particle Communications Wholesale, BySky, Lobo Internet Services, Antelecom, SignalNet, Mobile Communications, and Sonic Spectrum.
National Telecom, LLC faces a proposed fine of $30,000 for two apparent violations within the last 12 months. The FCC has proposed a $15,000 fine for each of these violations.
Seven other companies face similar fines while Mobile Communications received notification of a $15,000 fine.
The FCC requires internet providers to submit detailed data on their broadband internet access services through its Broadband Data Collection (BDC) system. This information is critical for maintaining accurate national broadband coverage maps, which play a key role in policy decisions and in determining how funding for broadband expansion is allocated, particularly in underserved areas.
Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal emphasized the significance of timely and accurate data submission, noting that companies failing to comply with data collection rules jeopardize efforts to close the digital divide. “Without accurate data, the Commission’s ability to assess broadband availability and direct funding to unserved communities is severely impacted,” Egal stated.
National Telecom, based in Michigan, provides fixed broadband internet services to businesses in several counties and holds 40 FCC licenses. The company failed to submit required data in three separate rounds over the past two years, despite multiple notices from the FCC. Other companies listed face similar penalties for not submitting their data on time.
The penalties stem from the Broadband DATA Act, passed in 2020, which mandates that broadband providers submit coverage data twice a year. This act aims to improve broadband coverage maps and ensure accurate data for policymakers.
The FCC’s actions underscore the importance of compliance with broadband reporting rules as part of the broader national effort to expand internet access across the country.
