FCC Challenge
How does an address get qualified for CVFiber Internet service?
Universal access to broadband
At CVFiber, we believe that everyone in our member towns who is on the grid should have equal access to broadband Internet. With support from our communities, we have a long-term commitment in providing universal access to high-speed Internet to all households and businesses who would like access.
How can I check to see if my address is qualified for CVFiber Internet service?
THREE STEPS:
1. Visit our homepage https://cvfiber.net/.
2. Type in your address into the address search bar, select your service type (residential or business).
3. Click the “CHECK AVAILABILITY” button below.
If you are included within our current construction plan, you will be able to continue the process of either signing up with your Internet package OR preregistering for service.
Only areas that have completed construction and network testing are now eligible for sign up. All others are open for preregistration.
If you are not included within our current construction plan, this does not mean that we will never reach your address. This means that your address is not qualified based on FCC’s designation as “unserved” or “underserved.” We need to reach households and businesses with this designation first before we expand to “served” addresses.
How did CVFiber decide which addresses are included in today’s construction map?
FCC Map: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its National Broadband Map on November 18, 2022. The map shows all areas nationwide that had access to high-speed Internet. The FCC Maps determine the amount of state funding from the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
CVFiber Map: Today’s CVFiber Construction Map relies on the FCC’s designation of “unserved” and “underserved” addresses. Our current build plan includes addresses within our member towns that have been identified by the FCC as being unserved or underserved and that are on the electrical grid.
This does not mean that we will not get to your address. We just cannot give any sort of time frame when we will be able to provide fiber Internet to those who are now, based on the FCC designations, are considered “served” with other options.
We do acknowledge that some of the alternative options are not adequate to meet current needs which is why we are working towards universal access within our 20 member towns. We can’t be sure when we’ll get to “served” addresses, but we will.
Why is my address not included in CVFiber’s current build plan?
As a non-profit organization, we received federal grants to get our network started. Based on those grants, CVFiber is required to prioritize addresses that are designated as “unserved” or “underserved” by the FCC. CVFiber does not play a role in making those designations.
“Unserved” vs “Underserved” designations The FCC considers addresses as “served” if there are other Internet Service Providers who say they can give you service at speeds of 25/3 or 30/3.
For more information visit the Broadband Data Collection website.
How can I challenge the FCC designation?
You’re allowed to challenge those claims. You can do that using the link I gave you. If you challenge those claims, and the FCC agrees, then your address may get changed from “served” to “underserved” or “unserved”. If you get your neighbors to do that, the whole area might get re-designated. That’s what our staff were talking about when they were talking about challenging the FCC’s map in their email to you.
The FCC has a video tutorial to guide you through the process.
The VCBB has also issued its “Call to Action” for Vermonters to Challenge Wrong FCC Map Data.
We want to hear from you.
Fill out this 3 question survey to tell us about your FCC challenge. We’d like to stay in touch to follow progress updates.