FCC Filing Submission By TowerCoverage

FCC Filing Completion Requirements

Using The TowerCoverage FOBO (File on Behalf of) System

MUST HAVE A TOWERCOVERAGE.COM ACCOUNT!!!!!!

The FCC has made some changes to the filing process, and the Form 477 portal will no longer be taking new submissions. It will remain open for revisions if you need to make them, but present and future filings will now take place at https://bdc.fcc.gov/

When you utilize this system you will be asked a series of questions. Your answers to these questions will determine how the process proceeds, meaning wether or not you want us to file on your behalf or you've decided to just order your files, and complete the process on your own. Regardless of your choice, There are certain steps that must take place before you can utilize the system properly. This article contains detailed references to the system, and to each of those steps that must be completed before the process can be initiated.

You'll begin the process via the FCC Dashboard inside TowerCoverage.

Step One

Aquiring and Uploading your Fabric Data

In order to obtain your fabric data, you need to sign up with CostQuest. If you have not done that already you can request access here: How to Access the FCC's Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric

After that, you'll return to your FCC Dashboard and you will upload the ZIP file that you have received from CostQuest. Please REMOVE any files labeled Secondary, As this will slow down our processing time and is not needed. Please note, any uploads will REMOVE any existing fabric data. Below the upload is your current number of rows of data and the date it was last uploaded.

It is preferred that you do this before you begin your order, but you will also have the opportunity to upload after you initiate FOBO.

Step Two

Assigning Values to your Multi Coverage List

For each Multi-Coverage you will need to provide the following:

ProviderId (A unique 6-digit code generated by the FCC that identifies each service provider.)

Find yours Here

DBA
Tech Code
Max Advertised Down
Max Advertised Up
Whether or not the Coverage is Low Latency (This is either True or False)

The offered service is low latency, defined as having round-trip latency of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds based on the 95thpercentile of measurements.

And the Business / Residential Designation which can be either Business, Residential, or Both

You'll be sectioning off your maps based on this data, so pay attention to which access points share the same values, as it is possible you may only need one Multi-Map for this filing. If you need more than one map due to variance in speed packages provided, differing technology, or some other aspect, Section them off accordingly and provide the necessary data for each.

Step Three

Initiating your order

Clicking this button begins the FOBO Process.

Question 1 - Would you like us to file for you?

For your first question you'll be asked if you want us to file for you, or if you're just ordering files.

If you opt for TowerCoverage to file for you, Billable Time will be applied to your order total, and you will move on to question two.

Question 2 - PE Certification

Wether you want us to file for you, or you've chosen to just purchase files, you still have the option to Utilize TowerCoverage for your Certifying Enginner.

If you would like us to certify your data, click yes to this question, and the fee for certification fee will automatically be applied to your total.

Your data must be certified via the guidelines provided by the FCC. Requirements can be found here: BDC Certification Requirements

A Limited waiver applies to all mobile and fixed providers. It is available to apply for the next two filing cycles.

Conditions for waiver:

Engineer must possess a bachelor's or postgraduate degree in electrical engineering, electronic technology, or another similar technical discipline, and at least seven years of relevant experience in broadband network design and/or performance, or
Engineer must possess specialized training relevant to broadband network engineering and design, deployment, and/or performance, and at least ten years of relevant experience in broadband network engineering, design, and/or performance. To utilize the waiver go to the explanation and comments section of the BDC submission and include the following language: “The engineer certifying our submission meets the minimum qualifications outlined in the Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waiver adopted on July 8th 2022 in WC Docket No. 19-195.”

Question 3 - Filer Information / Order Completion Process

This question will change depending on your answer to Question 1. If you elected for us to file for you, this will be where you fill out the filer information section of the FOBO process. This contains all the information required for us to complete your filing. We'll need your cores username and password, as well as your DBA and the contact info of the person responsible for the filing. We'll also request SAC Codes, your 499 Filer ID, VOIP Info, and your emergency contact info (Which may be the same as the person responsible for your filing).

Ordering Files

To Complete the filing you will need:

The Fixed Broadband Availability Location List
Your Subscription Data
A Complete .CSV of your VOIP Data (if Applicable) During this process you will have the opportunity to upload, or in the case of the Availability Data order everything that you need. Below is a detailed description of every file needed to complete the process.

The Fixed Broadband Availability Location List

This product uses Broadband Fabric Data as well as your multi-Maps to create a properly formatted location list to submit for the filing. This is a comprehensive list based on your RF propagation data. Please make sure your coverage projections are accurate before proceeding with this order.

Fixed Broadband Subscription

If you have a CRM that can export the complete .csv of your subscription data, you will be asked to upload that file. If you do not, during this process we will provide a template you can download for you to complete that contains what is needed to generate the files.

After the File On Behalf Of Order has been submitted, you will see the Subscription Data Order in the Orders sections and it will have a Status of "Upload File(s)".

The Subscription Data Template contains the following fields. Please remove any unnecessary data in the address field such as unit numbers or extra commas. Lat Longs are not required, but encouraged for more efficient processing.

Address
City
State
Zip Code
Advertised Upload
Advertised Download
Business (1=yes 0=no)
Latitude (not required)
Longitude (not required)

VOIP .CSV Format

Tract Code

11-digit 2020 census tract code – must be 11 digits! Filers should also ensure that the tract code is stored as text rather than as a numeric value (otherwise, any leading zeros in the tract code will be dropped).

Service Type

A code indicating the type of service counted in each record: 0=VGE lines (for local exchange services) or 1=VoIP subscriptions (for interconnected VoIP services). - Value must be one of the following codes: 0 – Voice-grade Equivalent Line 1 – Interconnected Voice over IP (VoIP)

Total VGE lines or VoIP Subscriptions

The number of voice-grade equivalent lines and voice-grade equivalent wireless channels in service (if Service Type = 0) OR the number of VoIP subscriptions (if Service Type = 1) provided in the census tract.

Consumer VGE Lines or VoIP Subscriptions

The number of voice-grade equivalent lines and voice-grade equivalent wireless channels in service (if Service Type=0), OR the number of VoIP subscriptions (if Service Type=1) provided in consumer-grade service plans in the census tract. A consumer service plan (or Mass market / consumer service plan) is a service plan designed for, marketed to, or purchased by primarily residential end users.

You can keep track of your progress in the left side panel. You will be notified by TowerCoverage when your filing has been submitted.