Technical Resources
This is broadband data in several different forms, depending on what you are looking for. All of the data included in this section is public data.
This section is meant to provide a variety of data sources and user guides for how to find data about broadband access and different broadband indicators for a county or across the state. There are different maps and data sources that can be customized to narrow in on data on the topic you may be looking for.
Using Broadband Maps
Each of the maps provided in this section is provided by the NC Broadband Infrastructure Office and visualizes data collected by the state and other sources. These data sets and corresponding maps illustrate broadband availability, adoption, planning, and other related indicators throughout North Carolina.
Within each of these maps, layers of information are available and users are encouraged to explore and toggle between the layers to get a full understanding of the data provided. In addition, a zoom tool is available on each map to narrow data sets to either a region of the state, a county, or even down to the road level.
Fully interactive maps are embedded and labeled within the following pages of the playbook. Many thanks to the NC Broadband Infrastructure Office and their partnership, which provided data visualizations that are integral to getting a full picture of the broadband landscape in North Carolina.
Planning Maps
County Profile Map
Each county can download their county profile that shows broadband service and funding. You can also use this map to see eligible locations that have not been awarded grants, according to latest available data.
Click here to view some of the map's Quick Hints.
NC Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) Planning Tool
The CAB planning dashboard provides many datasets useful for project planning purposes.
Click here to view some of the map's Quick Hints.
NC Great Grant Online Mapping Tool
This online mapping tool assists in identifying possible project areas for the GREAT Grant Program. The GREAT Grant Online Mapping Tool is available at this link or by clicking on the map below. An in-depth guide available for the GREAT Grant map is available at this link.
Click here to view some of the map's Quick Hints.
Broadband Survey
The NC Broadband Survey is designed to gather information on locations in the state without adequate internet access and speeds. Click here or the map image below to view the map.
Adoption and Availability Maps
Fixed Broadband Service Areas
Use this application to see the broadband providers serving a specific area of the state with minimum speeds of 25mb/s download and 3mb/s upload. Data can also be used to visualize the technologies being deployed to each area.
Broadband Adoption and Availability Index Maps
Use this application to view indices created by combining US Census demographic data with FCC Broadband availability data. For more information about the methodology, visit the Broadband Infrastructure Office website.
NC Student Connectivity Dashboard
The North Carolina Remote Learning Student Connectivity Dashboard is intended as a general broadband planning resource for improving student connectivity across the state. Student locations in each county have been aggregated to various levels to help identify concentrations of K-12 students in relation to broadband availability and access points. To view the interactive map, click here or on the image below.
NCACC Mapbook Data on Broadband and Internet Access
County and Regional Digital Inclusion Profiles
The North Carolina Department of Information Technology Office of Digital Equity and Literacy works to ensure that all North Carolinians can afford a high-speed internet subscription and have the devices and skills necessary to participate in the digital economy. As part of this effort, they worked with Roberto Gallardo, Ph.D. to use data from 017-2021 Census Five-Year American Community Survey data and Ookla speed test data to create county profiles aimed to help communities understand the digital landscape of their communities. County profiles can be found here or by clicking on the counties listed below.
Affordable Connectivity Program Dashboard
This dashboard visualizes the data released on Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) utilization by the Universal Service Administrative Company. This dashboard has two interactive features. Click on the breakout buttons in the corner of dashboard elements to open a full-sized view (use the Home button to return). Or, use control + left click to interact with multiple elements inside of a single dashboard element, and build custom data sheets. On March 4, the FCC provided further information in a Public Notice that announced the last fully funded month of the program is April 2024. Providers currently participating in the ACP are strongly encouraged to review the FCC’s Order and Public Notice, which set out requirements regarding the specific and frequent notices to enrolled ACP households about the end of the program.
FCC Map
Search and visualize Fixed Broadband Deployment data collected by FCC on the FCC's web mapping application that displays data for the entire country. This data represents availability by census block. To view this interactive map, click here or on the image below.
County-Community Impact Steps
The below resources serve to help counties explore the scope and depth of the broadband landscape in their communities.
Below is a step-by-step explainer of the FCC maps and resulting challenge process, and gives an overview on the importance of this data. Read below for context on this vital aspect of broadband expansion and a step by step guide for how to submit a challenge.
Additionally in this section, read on for a rundown on how to conduct an asset inventory in your county and information on where to go for further information.
FCC Maps and the Challenge Process
1. What are FCC Maps?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the federal agency responsible for collecting, verifying and reporting broadband data in the United States. FCC data is what is used to determine eligible locations for federal and state funding for broadband projects and dictates areas considered served, underserved, and unserved.
2. What has changed with the FCC Maps?
On March 23, 2020, federal legislation was enacted to change the way broadband data is collected, verified, and reported. The Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act – also known as the Broadband DATA Act – aims to correct inadequate broadband data collection, which has historically overstated access. Among other things, the bill requires the FCC to collect location specific data and allow the public, third parties, and others to challenge data through an ongoing iterative process.
In November 2022, the FCC released a national broadband availability map, which provides information about the internet services available to individual locations across the country, along with new maps of mobile coverage, as reported by internet service providers (ISPs) in the FCC’s ongoing Broadband Data Collection. Since the national broadband availability map was released, the FCC has been accepting challenges to its national broadband maps in an effort to better capture available internet service across the United States. Community members can review the map that displays where internet services are and are not available across the United States, as reported by internet service providers, and allows for individuals to easily dispute individual availability information that is inaccurate.
3. Why are these new maps important?
This is the first time that the FCC has allowed consumers, state, local and tribal government entities as well as other stakeholders to verify the accuracy of the data shown on the map. Previously, they accepted information submitted to them solely by service providers. This new process allows challenges to what has been reported and what is experienced on a location specific basis. Participating in the challenge process helps ensure mapping accuracy and enables communities to identify unserved and underserved areas with the greatest need for high-speed internet infrastructure investments.
4. Why should I submit a challenge?
Participating in the challenge process helps ensure mapping accuracy and enables communities to identify unserved and underserved areas with the greatest need for high-speed internet infrastructure investments. The areas reflected in this data map could help define projects for future state funded programs that are designed to target underserved and unserved locations across the state. North Carolina is continuing to implement grant funding for broadband and the new maps allow more locations to be eligible for grant funding, specifically, North Carolina's Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program.
5. How do I submit a challenge?
The North Carolina Department of Information Technology has created step-by-step instructions for submitting challenges:
- Select the Fixed Broadband tab and then click the Availability Challenge link (mid-right).
- In the window that opens, click “Select” next to the provider whose service you want to challenge.
- Select either (1) “Send my challenge to the selected provider,” which will initiate a challenge against the provider, or (2) “I’m giving feedback about the information above but not submitting a challenge.”
- Enter your contact information - your name and email are required - and your phone number is optional.
- Select the reason code for your challenge. The remaining fields will update based on the type of challenge you select.
- Enter a description and upload any supporting documents or screenshots.
- Check the certification box.
- Click Submit.
How to Conduct an Asset Inventory
Counties should know what resources they have before they set out on broadband projects. This resource is for county staff or officials who want to understand what assets already exist in the county that could be helpful for broadband projects. Knowing what infrastructure and useful assets that already exist or are in use is helpful in understanding where there are opportunities for expansion.
What is asset mapping? Simply put, asset mapping is a process of the of collecting, organizing, and tracking data on relevant infrastructure assets that can be utilized for broadband deployment.
Why is asset mapping important? Asset mapping helps counties understand what tools they have to use as incentive for ISPs to partner with on broadband projects.
Who should do it? This kind of effort can be done through a county GIS person or other county staff who have the information and skills needed to assemble an asset inventory.
What is an asset?
- Town- or county-owned water towers, silos, towers, and tall buildings can be used by providers at low- or no-cost leases for mobile or fixed wireless broadband internet deployment.
- Rights of way can be made available for easier and less expensive access to burying or stringing fiber optic cable.
- Capital projects, either current or future, such as road construction or installing or upgrading water pipes or other infrastructure, can be used as an opportunity to lay new fiber optic conduit for future activation.
- Other community-owned infrastructure, such as utility poles, can be used at reduced costs or even free of charge by telecommunications companies to expand broadband networks.
- Community-owned land can be leased, often at reduced costs, to telecommunications companies to expand broadband networks.
- Community-owned utilities have assets, including customer databases and office infrastructure, that can be shared with broadband providers.
- Franchise agreements and contracts that are near expiration provide opportunities for new and better broadband service.
How to conduct an asset inventory? The NCDIT has examples of asset mapping and other resources to help with this effort.
What does the final inventory look like? See pages 23-30 from Carteret County Digital Inclusion Plan for how they detailed their asset inventory. Asset mapping results can also be presented in maps detailing the assets.
You have an asset inventory, now what? An asset inventory is a great tool to have to bring to providers in the county during planning discussions and as the county hones in on areas that need to be prioritized for future broadband projects. For next steps, consider completing the NC DIT Asset Inventory Survey.