Feb 13, 2023 06:00:00

It turns out that Comcast was reporting false broadband diffusion data to the government

by

Mike Mozart

It turned out that there was an error in the data on broadband coverage areas reported to the government by Comcast, a major US carrier. Residents of the area filed an objection to Comcast for correction, but it was not accepted, and it is reported that Comcast acknowledged the mistake for the first time after Ars Technica, an IT news site, intervened.

Comcast gave false map data to FCC—and didn't admit it until Ars got involved | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/02/comcast-gave-false-map-data-to-fcc-and-didnt-admit-it-until-ars-got-involved/

The problem was discovered when Matthew Hillier, who lives in Arvada, Colorado, searched for his home on the broadband map published by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Comcast said that Hillier's house would provide the Internet at a speed of `` download 1.2 Gbps, upload 35 Mbps '', but Mr. Hillier is actually using another operator called Lumen Technologies (formerly CenturyLink) service, and the speed is only 'up to 60 Mbps for download and 5 Mbps for upload'.

The FCC's broadband map is important because it is used to select target areas for subsidies in the government-promoted $42.45 billion (about 5.54 trillion yen) broadband diffusion program.

When Mr. Hillier filed a complaint with the FCC to correct the data that identified his home as a Comcast broadband service area, the FCC said, ``If you and the provider you disputed are within 60 days If no agreement can be reached, the provider will report the status of its efforts to resolve the dispute on its online portal, after which FCC officials will review all evidence and uphold your dispute, or Or you will decide to overturn your objection, ”he said, as if it were a person.

Regarding this response, Mr. Hillier said, ``Despite the data reported about my house by Comcast, I had to submit evidence that I was not receiving service from such a provider. I would like to expect government agencies to do more than say, 'Tell me the result after solving it yourself,'' he complains.

Despite Hillier's challenge, Comcast still claimed to serve the FCC in the region. Ars Technica actually checked and found that not only Hillier's home, but dozens of other homes in his neighborhood and other areas were mistakenly being served by Comcast's broadband service. rice field.

In response to this, Ars Technica contacted Comcast, and Comcast admitted that it was not providing services to Mr. Hillier's house immediately the next day. We also reported it to the FCC, who changed the status of the complaint on the FCC map from 'pending' to 'supported'.

Hillier's neighbor Robert Eck said, 'There are only two wired Internet services we can bring to our house: Lumen Technologies and Telephone and Data Systems. Why on earth did Comcast insist on providing service to our property?' ’ he shook his head.

Also, Harold Feld, an attorney and senior vice president of consumer group Public Knowledge, said, ``What's impressive is that Comcast countered the complaint before seriously investigating it. Everyone makes mistakes. , I think the reason why I chose to protect my mistakes rather than correct them was because of the fact that I have nothing to lose by being complacent.”