By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The FCC has published a new National Broadband Map, which shows where internet service is – and is not – available across the country, including here in Clallam County.
But the map is no good if it isn’t accurate, and that’s where you can help.
Federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding is based on the state’s unserved population, which is anyone with internet speeds under 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload. If this map is inaccurate, your location may be mistakenly listed as served, and state or federal sources are less likely to fund new service or upgrades.
Port Angeles City Manager Nathan West is encouraging residents to take a few moments to review the National Broadband Map for accuracy, and challenge any inaccurate information.
“It’s really a question of, “are these maps accurate and are we fully seeing service to all of the citizens of Port Angeles?” At least that is the interest of the City of Port Angeles, is, we’re seeing quality service to all of our citizens. And so, for that reason, we think there’s a lot of merit to following through with this challenge and following some of those links. We want the FCC’s data to be accurate, and it’s important that we all participate.”
How do you know if the map of your area is accurate or not? We tried it based on a location in unincorporated Clallam County. Specifically, about 5 miles up Blue Mountain Road. This location says it is served with broadband internet through HughesNet and ViaSat satellite services. We checked their websites and they both say it is available at that address at 25-30mbps.
CenturyLink serves that property via DSL, but only at 10mbps, which does not qualify as high speed internet.
The map also says Starlink is available at that address, at a whopping 100mbps, but when we tried to sign up to order it, it says it’s coming soon and we can get on a waiting list.
The catch for participating in the survey is that it ends next week on Friday the 13th.
To participate, visit the FCC National Broadband Map website (https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home), type in your address, and review the reported services.
More information can be found on the Washington Department of Commerce website, or by viewing the Broadband Map Challenge Process.