Capito, Manchin teaming with West Virginia Office of Broadband to challenge FCC maps

U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin have teamed with the West Virginia Office of Broadband to challenge the Federal Communications Commission’s recently released draft broadband coverage map.

During a virtual informational session Monday, members of the senators’ staffs and representatives of state Office of Broadband encouraged residents to review the map and submit a challenge to any inaccurate information they find.

State residents can search the FCC’s draft map for a specific location, such as a home or business address, to view details on available broadband services.

While the map is an improvement compared to previous versions, officials believe it still does not accurately reflect broadband internet coverage in the state.

“In recent years I’ve submitted more than 2,400 speed tests from West Virginians that prove that the FCC’s maps were — and maybe still are — incorrect,” said Manchin. “We’re going to find out.”

The finalized maps will be used to determine how federal broadband expansion funding will be allocated, Capito said.

“As we look at the dollars — billions of dollars — that are going into our states we want to make sure the promises are kept,” she said. “The promise is that everybody will have broadband accessibility, but also vibrant broadband, not something that’s difficult or too expensive and something that you can reach from your home or business.”

Jamie Hoffmann, program manager for the Office of Broadband, outlined some of the initial problems the office has identified with the FCC’s draft maps.

The FCC’s map shows a total of 902,699 “broadband serviceable locations” in the state, but the Office of Broadband has identified “a minimum of 138,000 locations missing from the map.”

Additionally, because the FCC’s map includes “satellite coverage” most of West Virginia appears to be “100% served.”

“That information is a bit misleading for the public,” Hoffman said.

The Office of Broadband plans to submit its own challenges to the maps on behalf of the state, Hoffman said.

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