Comment Sought on Measurement of Mobile Broadband Network Performance and Coverage, 33303-33305 [2010-14102]

Download as PDF WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 112 / Friday, June 11, 2010 / Notices paradigm described in the 2007 National Research Council Report, as tools to organize and review data from multiple sources and from multiple levels of biological organization. The Agency will develop a draft MOA analysis of the animal data describing key events for the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal and hypothalamicpituitary-gonadal axes along with a description of temporal and doseresponse concordance, and the strengths and remaining uncertainties in the data. The animal MOA will be integrated with epidemiology studies on atrazine into a draft WOE analysis. The Agency will also discuss alternative dose metrics for use in risk assessment and the strengths and limitations of each. The Agency will solicit feedback from the SAP on the implications of alternative dose metrics for performing dose response assessment in deriving points of departure, evaluating potential for differential lifestage susceptibility, and in determining the appropriate frequency of monitoring CWS. As a condition of reregistration of atrazine, EPA required the registrants to implement a monitoring program in selected CWS in the corn and sorghum growing area of the U.S. Midwest. Generally, longer durations of concern (e.g., annual average concentration for a long-term chronic effect) require a less frequent sampling design to approximate longer term exposures. However, as the duration of the exposure of concern shortens, the frequency and timing of sampling become more important in determining how accurately the sample data capture these short-duration exposures. Depending on the aquatic resource being sampled, the likelihood increases that a spike in exposure may be missed by less frequent sampling. In light of the feedback received at the April SAP, the Agency will update proposed statistical approaches to determine the appropriate monitoring frequency for different toxicological durations of interest. The Agency will consider feedback received from the SAP at the September 2010 meeting as it completes the noncancer WOE analysis integrating experimental toxicology and epidemiology studies with statistical analysis for determining whether or not adjustments are necessary in the sampling frequency of CWS water monitoring. C. FIFRA SAP Documents and Meeting Minutes EPA’s background paper, related supporting materials, charge/questions to FIFRA SAP, FIFRA SAP composition VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:04 Jun 10, 2010 Jkt 220001 (i.e., members and ad hoc members for this meeting), and the meeting agenda will be available by mid-August. In addition, the Agency may provide additional background documents as the materials become available. You may obtain electronic copies of these documents, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, at https:// www.regulations.gov and the FIFRA SAP homepage at https://www.epa.gov/ scipoly/sap. FIFRA SAP will prepare meeting minutes summarizing its recommendations to the Agency approximately 90 days after the meeting. The meeting minutes will be posted on the FIFRA SAP website or may be obtained from the OPP Regulatory Public Docket at https:// www.regulations.gov. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests. Dated: June 3, 2010 Steven M. Knott, Acting Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy. [FR Doc. 2010–14092 Filed 6–10–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–S FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [CG Docket No. 09–158; CG Docket No. 98– 170; WC Docket No. 04–36; DA 10–988] Comment Sought on Measurement of Mobile Broadband Network Performance and Coverage AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In this document, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) seeks to gather additional information on the performance of mobile broadband services. The Bureau seeks comment on whether and how to pursue a measurement program for mobile broadband services given the growing significance of mobile internet access. Additionally, the Bureau seeks comment on how providers can improve voluntary self-reporting of network performance and coverage. DATES: Comments are due on or before July 1, 2010. ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments and reply comments identified by [CG Docket No. 09–158], by any of the following methods: PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 33303 • Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the Commission’s Electronic comment Filing System (ECFS), through the Commission’s Web site: https:// www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting comments. • For ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket number, which in this instance is [CG Docket No. 09–158, CC Docket No. 98–170, WC Docket No. 04–36]. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message, ‘‘get form <your e-mail address>.’’ A sample form and directions will be sent in response. • Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although the Commission continues to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. • All hand-delivered or messengerdelivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW., Room TW–A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. • Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. • U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jordan Usdan, Spectrum & Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418–2035 (Voice) or e-mail Jordan.Usdan@fcc.gov. This is a summary of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) Public Notice CG Docket No. 09–158, CC Docket No. 98–170, WC Docket No. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\11JNN1.SGM 11JNN1 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES 33304 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 112 / Friday, June 11, 2010 / Notices 04–36 and DA 10–988, released June 1, 2010. In the 2009 Consumer Information and Disclosure Notice of Inquiry (NOI), 24 FCC Rcd 14120 (2009); the Commission sought comment on ways to protect and empower American consumers by ensuring sufficient access to relevant information about communications services. Subsequent to release of the 2009 Consumer Information and Disclosure NOI, the Commission released the National Broadband Plan, which recommends that the Commission develop broadband performance standards for mobile services, maintain and expand on current initiatives to capture usergenerated data on network performance and coverage, and continue to work with measurement companies, application designers, device manufacturers, and service providers to create an online database to help consumers make better choices for mobile broadband. Further, the Plan suggests that the Commission encourage industry to create more transparent and standard disclosure of network performance and coverage for mobile broadband. As part of the National Broadband Plan proceeding, the Commission issued Public Notice # 24 to gather additional information on fixed residential and small business Internet broadband services. With that public notice, the Commission began its effort to measure and publish data on actual performance of fixed broadband services, as ultimately recommended in the National Broadband Plan. The Commission recently contracted with a third-party, SamKnows Limited, to embark on this initiative, and has released a public notice seeking comment on the proposed methodology. As detailed below, the Bureau now seeks comment on whether and how to pursue a similar measurement program for mobile broadband services given the growing significance of mobile internet access. Additionally, the Bureau seeks comment on how providers can improve voluntary self-reporting of network performance and coverage. Because some of the questions below may be related to issues raised in the 2009 Consumer Information and Disclosure NOI, the Bureau encourages parties who have provided responses on related issues in other proceedings to respond to this Public Notice by citing previous filings and expanding on previous comments as appropriate, to ensure that all relevant information is included within the record we are developing. Measurement metrics for mobile broadband services: The Bureau seeks to VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:04 Jun 10, 2010 Jkt 220001 understand the best metrics to measure the performance of mobile broadband services. Performance of mobile broadband networks is becoming more important as mobile broadband plays an increasingly important role in our lives and in our economy. 1. What are the best measurement metrics for mobile broadband services? a. What performance characteristics should be tracked for mobile broadband networks (e.g., typical data throughput, signal strength, accessibility, retainability, latency, other quality of service parameters)? At what level of temporal and geographic granularity? b. What parts of the network should be measured? What starting and ending points (e.g., radio access network, middle mile) are most useful and actionable for consumers, regulators and providers? c. Should measurement processes and standards for mobile broadband services be different than those for fixed broadband connections? User-generated and other data gathering methods: The Bureau seeks comment on methods to gather better data for mobile broadband network performance and coverage. 2. What are the best methods for collecting data on mobile broadband performance and coverage for endusers? a. What are the best available tools in the market today for measuring mobile broadband performance and service coverage? b. Are there current data sets already available that could be useful for facilitating better consumer disclosures on mobile broadband performance and coverage? c. Are there existing technologies that can measure actual end-user experience on mobile broadband networks? If so where could the measurements take place (e.g., on the device, inside the network)? 3. How can user generated data (i.e., ‘crowdsourcing’) on mobile broadband network performance and coverage be utilized to assist in collecting data and improving transparency? a. What efforts and technologies currently exist that can enable device level data collection on performance and coverage of mobile broadband networks? What metrics could a device level software application collect that could measure mobile broadband performance and coverage (e.g., signal strength, data throughput rate)? What other data points would be valuable to collect in association with that data (e.g., location, tower ID, handset type)? b. For collecting device level data, what impact does the type of device PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (e.g., smartphone, feature phones, laptop, wireless modem) itself have on end-user experienced network performance? How, if at all, could a measurement methodology take variations resulting from device type into consideration? c. How could measurement methodology account for variations in performance due to the location (e.g., basement of house vs. above ground) or movement (e.g., user on a train) of the end-user? How can we account for differences in location determination methods (e.g., GPS) across handsets and providers, if any? How should buildings, topography, weather, continued network build-outs, and other service availability variables be accounted for in the methodology? d. Can a statistically robust sampling method correct for the variables described above, such as the impact on performance and coverage measurements of movement, device and location variability? e. How can the Commission measure performance with minimal impact on the network itself? For example, how can active measurement techniques that generate additional network traffic mitigate potential increases in congestion? 4. What are the benefits and costs of measurement for providers, regulators, customers and others? a. What are the benefits (e.g., transparency, better data, network and international comparability, benefits for researchers, verification of National Broadband Map grantee data)? b. What are the costs (e.g., hardware costs, usage of the network, consumer hassle, accurate information already exists)? c. Are there any legal, security, privacy or data sensitivity issues with collecting device level data? If so, how can these issues be addressed? Publication and communication: The Bureau seeks comment on the best methods for publishing and communicating mobile broadband network performance metrics to consumers to help them make informed choices about mobile broadband services. 5. How could information on mobile broadband performance and coverage be better communicated to consumers? a. What are the current best practices for displaying or communicating mobile broadband performance and coverage to consumers today? b. Are consumers currently being provided with enough accurate and detailed information about performance and service coverage to make informed E:\FR\FM\11JNN1.SGM 11JNN1 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 112 / Friday, June 11, 2010 / Notices choices between different mobile broadband network providers? Current mobile broadband network performance and coverage disclosures: Existing voluntary disclosures related to mobile broadband performance and coverage have proven valuable for consumers. Providers of mobile broadband services usually provide coverage maps and ‘up-to’ or ‘typical’ data throughput rates. Third-parties also provide and compile coverage maps for providers (American Roamer) and consumers (Root Wireless). While existing data on mobile broadband services are helpful, gaps remain. For example, the currently provided ‘up-to’ or ‘typical’ data throughput rates are rough estimations of actual performance and some coverage maps provide a binary ‘yes’ or ‘no’ reading without accounting for signal strength at particular locations, whereas other maps provide more layered readings (such as indoor/outdoor or ‘good’/‘better’/‘best’). Additional voluntary performance measurements and standards could provide better information enabling consumers to make informed choices about mobile broadband services. 6. What measurements are typically performed by service providers today to track mobile broadband network performance and service availability? a. What tools are currently available for consumers to check coverage and performance at a specific geographic location by mobile broadband network (e.g., coverage maps), and how accurate are the data for typical outdoor and indoor consumer use? b. How are data for coverage and service area maps collected, verified and displayed (how compiled, how accurate, how granular)? How are data on mobile broadband performance (i.e., data throughput rates) measured and displayed? c. What technologies are used to collect such data (e.g., RF modeled coverage, drive tests, network reporting, handset data collections)? d. Are there any voluntary industry standards that are being used in disclosing mobile broadband network performance and coverage to consumers? How could these be improved (e.g., signal strength or throughput bands to map different levels of service quality)? In addition to written responses, the Bureau encourages submission of any data, charts or proposed plans that can be entered into the public record for purposes of building a record on this subject. All parties with knowledge and interest are encouraged to file. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:04 Jun 10, 2010 Jkt 220001 Federal Communications Commission. Mark Stone, Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. [FR Doc. 2010–14102 Filed 6–10–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [DA 10–1032] Consumer Advisory Committee AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Commission announces the next meeting date and agenda of its Consumer Advisory Committee (‘‘Committee’’). The purpose of the Committee is to make recommendations to the Commission regarding consumer issues within the jurisdiction of the Commission and to facilitate the participation of all consumers in proceedings before the Commission. DATES: The meeting of the Committee will take place on Wednesday June 30, 2010, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Commission’s Headquarters Building, Room TW–C305. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Marshall, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, (202) 418–2809 (voice), (202) 418–0179 (TTY), or e-mail Scott.Marshal@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission’s document DA 10–1032 released, June 4, 2010, announcing the agenda, date and time of the Committee’s next meeting. At its June 30, 2010 meeting, the Committee is expected to consider a further recommendation regarding consumer information disclosures to be filed in CG Docket 09–158, CC Docket 98–170 and WC Docket 04–36 (In the Matter of Consumer Information and Disclosure, Truth-in-billing and Billing Format, IP-enabled Services, Notice of Inquiry). The Committee is also expected to consider recommendations regarding National Broadband Plan implementation, Universal Access and Adoption and the Universal Service Fund. The Committee may also consider reports or recommendations regarding closed captioning, video description, hearing aid compatibility, telecommunications relay services, public safety, and sections 508 and 255. The Committee will receive reports from its working groups and may also PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 33305 consider other matters within the jurisdiction of the Commission. A limited amount of time on the agenda will be available for oral comments from the public attending at the meeting site. Meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC Live Web page at https://www.fcc.gov/live/. The Committee is organized under, and operates in accordance with, the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C., App. 2 (1988). A notice of each meeting will be published in the Federal Register at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting. Records will be maintained of each meeting and made available for public inspection. Members of the public may send written comments to: Scott Marshall, Designated Federal Officer of the Committee at scott.marshall@fcc.gov. The meeting site is fully accessible to people using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Sign language interpreters, open captioning, assistive listening devices, and Braille copies of the agenda and handouts will be provided on site. Simultaneous with the Webcast, the meeting will be available through Accessible Event, a service that works with your Web browser to make presentations accessible to people with disabilities. You can listen to the audio and use a screen reader to read displayed documents. You can also watch the video with open captioning. The Web site to access Accessible Event is https://accessibleevent.com. The web page prompts for an Event Code which is, 005202376. To learn about the features of Accessible Event, consult its User’s Guide at: https:// accessibleevent.com/doc/user_guide/. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. The request should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed and contact information. Please provide as much advance notice as possible; last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202–418–0530 (voice), 202–418–0432 (TTY). Federal Communications Commission. Mark Stone, Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. [FR Doc. 2010–14100 Filed 6–10–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P E:\FR\FM\11JNN1.SGM 11JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33303-33305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14102]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CG Docket No. 09-158; CG Docket No. 98-170; WC Docket No. 04-36; DA 
10-988]


Comment Sought on Measurement of Mobile Broadband Network 
Performance and Coverage

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
(Bureau) seeks to gather additional information on the performance of 
mobile broadband services. The Bureau seeks comment on whether and how 
to pursue a measurement program for mobile broadband services given the 
growing significance of mobile internet access. Additionally, the 
Bureau seeks comment on how providers can improve voluntary self-
reporting of network performance and coverage.

DATES: Comments are due on or before July 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments and reply comments 
identified by [CG Docket No. 09-158], by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the Commission's Electronic comment 
Filing System (ECFS), through the Commission's Web site: https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions provided on 
the Web site for submitting comments.
     For ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal screen, 
filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing 
address, and the applicable docket number, which in this instance is 
[CG Docket No. 09-158, CC Docket No. 98-170, WC Docket No. 04-36]. 
Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To 
get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, 
and include the following words in the body of the message, ``get form 
.'' A sample form and directions will be sent in 
response.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and four copies of each filing. Filings can be sent by 
hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by 
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although the 
Commission continues to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal 
Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's 
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
     All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings 
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 
445 12th St., SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours 
are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with 
rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before 
entering the building.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jordan Usdan, Spectrum & Competition 
Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-2035 
(Voice) or e-mail Jordan.Usdan@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) Public Notice CG Docket No. 09-
158, CC Docket No. 98-170, WC Docket No.

[[Page 33304]]

04-36 and DA 10-988, released June 1, 2010. In the 2009 Consumer 
Information and Disclosure Notice of Inquiry (NOI), 24 FCC Rcd 14120 
(2009); the Commission sought comment on ways to protect and empower 
American consumers by ensuring sufficient access to relevant 
information about communications services. Subsequent to release of the 
2009 Consumer Information and Disclosure NOI, the Commission released 
the National Broadband Plan, which recommends that the Commission 
develop broadband performance standards for mobile services, maintain 
and expand on current initiatives to capture user-generated data on 
network performance and coverage, and continue to work with measurement 
companies, application designers, device manufacturers, and service 
providers to create an online database to help consumers make better 
choices for mobile broadband. Further, the Plan suggests that the 
Commission encourage industry to create more transparent and standard 
disclosure of network performance and coverage for mobile broadband.
    As part of the National Broadband Plan proceeding, the Commission 
issued Public Notice  24 to gather additional information on 
fixed residential and small business Internet broadband services. With 
that public notice, the Commission began its effort to measure and 
publish data on actual performance of fixed broadband services, as 
ultimately recommended in the National Broadband Plan. The Commission 
recently contracted with a third-party, SamKnows Limited, to embark on 
this initiative, and has released a public notice seeking comment on 
the proposed methodology.
    As detailed below, the Bureau now seeks comment on whether and how 
to pursue a similar measurement program for mobile broadband services 
given the growing significance of mobile internet access. Additionally, 
the Bureau seeks comment on how providers can improve voluntary self-
reporting of network performance and coverage.
    Because some of the questions below may be related to issues raised 
in the 2009 Consumer Information and Disclosure NOI, the Bureau 
encourages parties who have provided responses on related issues in 
other proceedings to respond to this Public Notice by citing previous 
filings and expanding on previous comments as appropriate, to ensure 
that all relevant information is included within the record we are 
developing.
    Measurement metrics for mobile broadband services: The Bureau seeks 
to understand the best metrics to measure the performance of mobile 
broadband services. Performance of mobile broadband networks is 
becoming more important as mobile broadband plays an increasingly 
important role in our lives and in our economy.
    1. What are the best measurement metrics for mobile broadband 
services?
    a. What performance characteristics should be tracked for mobile 
broadband networks (e.g., typical data throughput, signal strength, 
accessibility, retainability, latency, other quality of service 
parameters)? At what level of temporal and geographic granularity?
    b. What parts of the network should be measured? What starting and 
ending points (e.g., radio access network, middle mile) are most useful 
and actionable for consumers, regulators and providers?
    c. Should measurement processes and standards for mobile broadband 
services be different than those for fixed broadband connections?
    User-generated and other data gathering methods: The Bureau seeks 
comment on methods to gather better data for mobile broadband network 
performance and coverage.
    2. What are the best methods for collecting data on mobile 
broadband performance and coverage for end-users?
    a. What are the best available tools in the market today for 
measuring mobile broadband performance and service coverage?
    b. Are there current data sets already available that could be 
useful for facilitating better consumer disclosures on mobile broadband 
performance and coverage?
    c. Are there existing technologies that can measure actual end-user 
experience on mobile broadband networks? If so where could the 
measurements take place (e.g., on the device, inside the network)?
    3. How can user generated data (i.e., `crowdsourcing') on mobile 
broadband network performance and coverage be utilized to assist in 
collecting data and improving transparency?
    a. What efforts and technologies currently exist that can enable 
device level data collection on performance and coverage of mobile 
broadband networks? What metrics could a device level software 
application collect that could measure mobile broadband performance and 
coverage (e.g., signal strength, data throughput rate)? What other data 
points would be valuable to collect in association with that data 
(e.g., location, tower ID, handset type)?
    b. For collecting device level data, what impact does the type of 
device (e.g., smartphone, feature phones, laptop, wireless modem) 
itself have on end-user experienced network performance? How, if at 
all, could a measurement methodology take variations resulting from 
device type into consideration?
    c. How could measurement methodology account for variations in 
performance due to the location (e.g., basement of house vs. above 
ground) or movement (e.g., user on a train) of the end-user? How can we 
account for differences in location determination methods (e.g., GPS) 
across handsets and providers, if any? How should buildings, 
topography, weather, continued network build-outs, and other service 
availability variables be accounted for in the methodology?
    d. Can a statistically robust sampling method correct for the 
variables described above, such as the impact on performance and 
coverage measurements of movement, device and location variability?
    e. How can the Commission measure performance with minimal impact 
on the network itself? For example, how can active measurement 
techniques that generate additional network traffic mitigate potential 
increases in congestion?
    4. What are the benefits and costs of measurement for providers, 
regulators, customers and others?
    a. What are the benefits (e.g., transparency, better data, network 
and international comparability, benefits for researchers, verification 
of National Broadband Map grantee data)?
    b. What are the costs (e.g., hardware costs, usage of the network, 
consumer hassle, accurate information already exists)?
    c. Are there any legal, security, privacy or data sensitivity 
issues with collecting device level data? If so, how can these issues 
be addressed?
    Publication and communication: The Bureau seeks comment on the best 
methods for publishing and communicating mobile broadband network 
performance metrics to consumers to help them make informed choices 
about mobile broadband services.
    5. How could information on mobile broadband performance and 
coverage be better communicated to consumers?
    a. What are the current best practices for displaying or 
communicating mobile broadband performance and coverage to consumers 
today?
    b. Are consumers currently being provided with enough accurate and 
detailed information about performance and service coverage to make 
informed

[[Page 33305]]

choices between different mobile broadband network providers?
    Current mobile broadband network performance and coverage 
disclosures: Existing voluntary disclosures related to mobile broadband 
performance and coverage have proven valuable for consumers. Providers 
of mobile broadband services usually provide coverage maps and `up-to' 
or `typical' data throughput rates. Third-parties also provide and 
compile coverage maps for providers (American Roamer) and consumers 
(Root Wireless). While existing data on mobile broadband services are 
helpful, gaps remain. For example, the currently provided `up-to' or 
`typical' data throughput rates are rough estimations of actual 
performance and some coverage maps provide a binary `yes' or `no' 
reading without accounting for signal strength at particular locations, 
whereas other maps provide more layered readings (such as indoor/
outdoor or `good'/`better'/`best'). Additional voluntary performance 
measurements and standards could provide better information enabling 
consumers to make informed choices about mobile broadband services.
    6. What measurements are typically performed by service providers 
today to track mobile broadband network performance and service 
availability?
    a. What tools are currently available for consumers to check 
coverage and performance at a specific geographic location by mobile 
broadband network (e.g., coverage maps), and how accurate are the data 
for typical outdoor and indoor consumer use?
    b. How are data for coverage and service area maps collected, 
verified and displayed (how compiled, how accurate, how granular)? How 
are data on mobile broadband performance (i.e., data throughput rates) 
measured and displayed?
    c. What technologies are used to collect such data (e.g., RF 
modeled coverage, drive tests, network reporting, handset data 
collections)?
    d. Are there any voluntary industry standards that are being used 
in disclosing mobile broadband network performance and coverage to 
consumers? How could these be improved (e.g., signal strength or 
throughput bands to map different levels of service quality)?
    In addition to written responses, the Bureau encourages submission 
of any data, charts or proposed plans that can be entered into the 
public record for purposes of building a record on this subject. All 
parties with knowledge and interest are encouraged to file.

Federal Communications Commission.
Mark Stone,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2010-14102 Filed 6-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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