Accurate and clear information is crucial to a well-functioning market. Today, broadband consumers in the U.S. have little information about the actual speed and performance of the broadband services available to them. Consumers lack clarity on: 1) actual speed and performance of the services they are receiving; 2) gap between actual and advertised speeds and the implications of that difference; and 3) speeds and performance of alternative providers in their areas.
The FCC seeks to contract with a 3rd party measurement company to measure the speeds and performance of a representative, cost-effective, statistically relevant sample of U.S. fixed broadband households across geographies, technologies and providers. This measurement will occur on an opt-in, voluntary basis. This representative sample will be used to create a baseline level of performance and measurements for the FCC. The 3rd party measurement contractor will deploy testing devices to begin measurement, and these results will then be used to inform measurement standards for performance of broadband services, in support of the FCC-led National Broadband Plan.
PL: Pub.L. 111 - 5 123 Name of Law: American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009
PL: Pub.L. 110 - 385 103(c)(1) Name of Law: Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.