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