This FCC broadband coverage map depicts broadband service gaps in orange.

According to broadband coverage maps drawn from data provided by telecommunications companies across Mississippi, high speed Internet service is available just about everywhere in the state.

Only it isn’t.

Now one Public Service Commissioner is going public warning broadband expansion funding is in jeopardy because the Federal Communications Commission is relying on faulty map data.

Northern District Commissioner Brandon Presley told the DeSoto Times-Tribune things are not nearly as rosy as some providers would have you believe.

“The maps the FCC have are just plain wrong,” Presley said. “Their maps show that Mississippi is almost completely covered and that is certainly not the case. Getting this corrected is a top priority so that Mississippi can get its fair share of funding to cover these areas for residents and businesses.”

The implications for DeSoto County, Mississippi’s fastest growing county, are profound.

Thanks to map data volunteered by service providers that suggest virtually the entire state already has access to broadband, federal assistance funding for expanding Internet access may be off-limits. Most assistance programs require that areas be unserved to avoid duplicating existing service.

“Currently, the map vastly overstates the broadband coverage in the state,” Presley said. “While the map shows neighboring states with extensive underserved areas, Mississippi appears with nearly universal coverage.”

The FCC’s map of unserved areas depicts Mississippi as a broadband outlier in the southern United States, with far more service options than other nearby southern states. Digging deeper reveals major problems with the FCC’s data.

For instance, the state’s map reveals much of Mississippi is covered by wireless providers like AT&T, C-Spire, and Verizon. But those companies offer only limited data plans at high prices that are not equivalent to traditional wired broadband from a cable or phone company. A company called Callis Communications is depicted as providing a large part of the state with DOCSIS 3 cable modem service, when in fact Callis markets cloud-services to business customers and does not operate a cable company.

Most of Mississippi’s broadband connections from cable companies and AT&T are in larger communities including Tupelo, Jackson, Meridian, Gulfport, Hattiesburg and Biloxi. That leaves large sections of central and western Mississippi with significant service gaps.

Presley said his office is working to correct the FCC’s National Broadband Map, but with federal spending cutbacks looming, it may already be too late.

“Without this assistance, rural communities will continue to be left behind as small businesses, health care and emergency services will be left without necessary access to the Internet,” Presley told the newspaper.

[flv width=”640″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WLOX Biloxi Broadband map could cost the state millions 12-21-12.mp4[/flv]

WLOX in Biloxi reports Mississippi officials are scrambling to correct faulty broadband map data with the FCC so the state can qualify for broadband expansion funding.  (2 minutes)

Efforts to develop new unlicensed uses for the public airwaves that include high-powered public Wi-Fi may be shelved if AT&T and House Republicans succeed in their joint effort to force those frequencies to be sold in a spectrum auction.

Majority House Republicans on the House Communications & Technology Subcommittee on Wednesday lectured all five FCC commissioners, insisting they have no authority to set aside spectrum specifically for unlicensed use when those airwaves could be sold to private companies.

Sub-Committee chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) criticized FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski for his plans to “give away” scarce airwaves eventually open to the public’s use when they could fetch as much as $19 billion in auction proceeds from large telecommunications companies seeking to own and control those frequencies.

Walden, the House’s second largest recipient of campaign contributions from the same companies likely to bid on that spectrum, insisted federal law only allows the Commission to designate unlicensed uses for so-called “technically necessary guard bands,” which act as a buffer between neighboring frequency users to protect against interference. Walden also criticized the FCC for setting aside too much spectrum for that protection.

Walden, the second largest recipient of telco cash in Congress.

The Oregon congressman has collected more than $84,000 in campaign contributions from telephone companies so far this year. Only House Speaker John Boehner won larger contributions from companies like AT&T.

Other Republican members of the subcommittee agreed with Walden’s sentiment and also received generous contributions from AT&T this year.

Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.), wanted to be sure the FCC does not impose “value-sapping restrictions” on the use of privately-owned airwaves owned by large telecommunications companies. Terry is the third largest recipient of campaign contributions in the House from those telecom companies, adding $69,400 so far this year to his campaign coffers.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) expressed concerns that spectrum auctions could displace low-power television stations to make way for mobile communications. But Barton did not oppose the auctions generally. His largest contributor: AT&T, which sent him checks for more than $21,000 in 2012.

Representative Robert E. Latta (R-Ohio) suggested auctioning off airwaves intended for public use to large mobile broadband companies would help America’s competitiveness, alluding to his belief unlicensed, free use of the airwaves for new wireless applications would not. Latta cashed $10,500 in AT&T checks so far this year — his fourth largest contributor. Latta added he wanted there to be transparency and openness in the entire spectrum process. He did not disclose his significant contributions from AT&T at the hearing, despite being a chief stakeholder in the debate.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) agreed with large telecommunications companies that the maximum amount of available spectrum should be sold off to private companies to sell mobile broadband services to the public. Blackburn’s third largest campaign contributor this year is Verizon Communications, who sent her $15,400. AT&T, her ninth largest contributor, handed her $13,250, together adding up to $28,650.

The Democrats on the panel roundly criticized Republican plans to sell off spectrum intended for unlicensed, public use applications to large wireless companies, which already own and control frequencies they still have not put into service.

Terry, worried about “value-sapping” regulations.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) called unlicensed spectrum an incredible economic success story.

“Innovative services like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are now ubiquitous parts of our communications system,” he said in his opening remarks. “They came about because of the use of unlicensed spectrum.”

Waxman suggested eliminating or limiting unlicensed spectrum would destroy innovation and further concentrate wireless communications in the hands of a handful of companies. Waxman said Congress’ original intent in passing laws that permitted the FCC to move forward with spectrum auctions also authorize the agency to protect competition and prevent unnecessary concentration of spectrum ownership to the detriment of smaller providers.

“I am troubled by attempts by some to relitigate issues that were resolved earlier this year, when the bill passed Congress with widespread support,” Waxman added. “After-the-fact-spin that unfairly twists the language of the law deserves little weight by the Commission or the courts.”

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) noted the FCC by statute is prohibited from considering the amount of revenue possible from spectrum auctions when drafting auction rules. She found Republican efforts to recast those rules to raise as much money as possible by selling off as much spectrum as possible “interesting.”

Many Republicans also complained the FCC must not set rules that either limit the maximum amount of spectrum owned by one company or set aside certain frequencies exclusively for smaller competitors. The Republicans want auctions to maintain a more straightforward “highest bidder takes all” format. Critics say that gives the advantage to larger, deep-pocketed existing providers and dissuades the entry of new competitors.

Some Republicans were also upset with FCC meddling over when and how private companies begin providing service on the airwaves they won at auction. Current FCC rules prohibit warehousing unused spectrum. The rules were designed to ensure large companies don’t invest in airwaves just to keep them off the market and unavailable to competitors.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) is fed up with Verizon Communications. The company handles most of the region’s 911 calls and has performed that task poorly in the last few years, argues Connolly.

“The whole purpose of 911 is that when you need it, it works,” Connolly told WUSA-News.

After several high profile 911 failures during significant storm events, Connolly and a few other congressmen are demanding Verizon resolve its 911 problems or face an intervention from the Federal Communications Commission.

The elected officials want Verizon to voluntarily comply, but if they won’t, all suggest it is time for the FCC to strengthen regulations and oversight to assure residents they will be met with a 911 operator when they call instead of a busy signal or nothing at all.

Verizon countered it takes its role in handling calls to 911 seriously, and when an issue arises, the company is quick to investigate, correct and apply any lessons learned across their system.

[flv width=”640″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WUSA Washington Gerry Connolly Va- Democratic Congressman critical of Verizon for its 911 performance 12-6-12.flv[/flv]

WUSA reports Connolly has grown tired of repeated failures with Washington, D.C.’s 911 system, handled by Verizon Communications. He wants the company to make changes to increase the service’s reliability, especially during storms when demand on the 911 system is greatest. (2 minutes)

Pai

Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai has warned forthcoming court rulings on Net Neturality could set the stage for more active oversight of Internet Service Providers, including a possible ban on usage-based pricing and data caps.

Speaking at the 2012 Annual U.S. Telecoms Symposium at the Phoenix Center in Washington, D.C. Dec. 6, Pai said 2013 will be an important year for broadband policy.

“The most important action probably will not occur either at the FCC or on Capitol Hill,” Pai said. “Instead, it will take place in the federal courthouse about a mile away on Constitution Avenue.”

The D.C. Court of Appeals is currently weighing a court challenge from Verizon that argues the federal agency has no regulatory authority to implement and oversee the open Internet policies that are the cornerstone of Net Neutrality.

Republicans have traditionally been hostile to the concept of Net Neutrality, because it restricts private providers from using network management concepts that could open up new revenue streams. Without Net Neutrality, providers could artificially reduce the performance of certain websites while enhancing others, usually based on financial agreements.

Many Democrats and consumer advocates want Net Neutrality to guarantee that all websites are treated equally, and that paying customers deserve a service unfettered by artificial obstacles or additional expense imposed by providers.

Even if the court finds in favor of Verizon, Pai fears the FCC’s Democratic majority will respond by emphatically asserting its oversight powers, reclassifying broadband as a “telecommunications service.” Since the Bush Administration, broadband has been regulated as an “information service,” subject to more restricted oversight.

“Should the D.C. Circuit uphold the FCC’s order, I would expect to see revitalized efforts to expand the Commission’s regulation of the Internet,” Pai said. “In particular, I would not be surprised if the FCC looked into whether we should stiffen our oversight of the network management practices of wireless broadband providers and whether we should begin to regulate usage-based pricing.”

“Under no circumstance will I support […] reclassification,” he added. “I am convinced that grafting the creaky, burdensome common carrier regulations onto the Internet would dramatically slow broadband deployment, reduce infrastructure investment, frustrate innovation, hamper job creation and diminish economic growth.”

Current FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has expressed repeated support for usage-based pricing in the market as an innovation in Internet pricing. With the chairman and his Republican colleagues in agreement, it seems unlikely the agency will consider curtailing the practice. So far, the FCC has not even responded to repeated requests to further investigate usage pricing and data caps.

(Image: Science Blogs)

While perusing the website of the chief telecom regulator in this country this afternoon, Cassandra, a rural independent telecom industry regulatory analyst, encountered into the misguided, the confused, and the tinfoil hat crowd overrunning the agency’s electronic comment submission system regarding proposed changes to the nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) and government policy regarding broadband regulation.

Chief among them was a public comment from a woman named Denise claiming she was being abused by her husband.

“Denise, you do realize you are looking for psychological help with your abusive spouse in a government rulemaking docket about broadband, right,” Cassandra tweeted.

That was just a preview. In the aforementioned EAS docket, the FCC website proudly promotes one recent comment from Debra, who has yet to figure out how to type in the big box or how to get that caps lock off (we deleted some personally identifying information, although the FCC website retains it, warning the public in advance “the filing you are making is a public filing. Any information that you submit will be available to the general public.”):

Amidst filings from broadcasters, cable operators, equipment manufacturers, and various special interest groups, the very wide variety of submissions from John Q. Public ranged from sober and thoughtful to… well-down the rabbit hole.

A sampler, left unchanged from the originals, except to remove the names of the innocent and embarrassed:

The Anti-Government Crowd:

I think it is an Orwellian-type demonstration by the Federal Government to impose a nation-wide test of the EBS. A “test” would be at 2am. This is clearly a demonstration by the powers that be that government can and will seize power of all communications whenever they see fit.  In the event of a national disaster, the one voice that I want to hear certainly isn’t the government’s.

Those Who Watched that whole Jack Bauer “24” box-set in one weekend:

It concerms me that this annoucement gives terroists an opportunity to take advantage of the test, since no one will be looking for a real notice.

The “You Are Scaring Me” Corner:

Why in the world wouldn’t there be newspaper articles and cable and network news information regarding FCC/FEMAs “big plan?” Do you purposefully WANT to scare the living daylights out of senior citizens? Why would you warn only federal agencies? I beleive there is something more sinister going on that is related to this plan. I am going to make sure that everybody knows about it and that your offices are saying it will not say it’s a test. How interesting that it’s happening right now. If I don’t start seeing news about it in the paper and on TV/radio, I am going to raise hell. Do something now. So far, I have notified fire departments that had no clue, old age homes, and city hall. You people are crazy if you think I’m going to allow a panic in MY town.

The Guy With a Landlord Problem:

I must worst file million of complaints against U.S. HUD Park Tower Apartments, in Portland OR, that they tampered my Facebook that I posted my comments that I do not felt safely reside in this danger situation. I must go in the court at requests for bringing me in justice requests that Park Tower Apartments in foe issues involved with their Facebook addresses. […] (bad employees) made in huge banana noses and bad people of employees with Park Tower Apartments address report to the court immediateness. Please tell U.S. Homeland Security pulls me out of this evil housing addresses because of they used Facebook issues as their employees’ Facebook accounts. Please tell Facebook about Park Tower Apartments in bad employees addresses as notifies to U.S. Senators at requests. thank you for pulling me out of this dangerous housing immediateness!

A loon

The Man on the Run:

NYPd has informed feds that I’m not on their radar but keep getting stalked from place to place. Last place the fire alarms tripped like today was at 500 pearl, street. nyc aug 3, 2011. depts got caught doing this at 339 west 39th feb 28, 2010 . the eavesdropping device went from the phones to the fdny system because fed attys advised me they botched the police brutlaity case in the fbi . this is in court now

I Copyrighted EAS First and the Feds Violated It So I Am Suing for $87 billion

EAS infringes copyright as asserted in lawsuit: […] The ORDER directs the Clerk to issue summonses and directs the U.S. Marshal to serve the Defendants.

Defendants include twenty-four government agencies, government individuals, including Federal Communications Commission and nine corporations sued in the United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas. The case cites organized theft of intellectual properties asserting the defendants are responsible for massive piracy of multiple copyrighted works that are generating billions of dollars in illegal proceeds in concert with private enterprises causing more than $87 billion dollars in damages to the legal owners of copyrighted intellectual properties.

[…]This case relates to letters by the Plaintiff requesting the United States Attorney General Eric Holder stop government theft of private intellectual property….

“People: the FCC cannot solve all your problems,” Cassandra tweeted. “They have enough of their own.”