PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications
Commission
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
445 12th St., S.W.
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
Washington, D.C. 20554
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 12-1442
Released: September 4, 2012
FCC TO LAUNCH MOBILE BROADBAND SERVICES TESTING AND
MEASURMENT PROGRAM
CG Docket No. 09-158
On September 21, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission will hold an open meeting to discuss a
new program to measure mobile broadband service performance in the United States.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP), developed by the FCC, made recommendations to improve the
availability of information for consumers about their broadband service. The FCC has undertaken a series
of projects as part of its Consumer Empowerment Agenda to realize this charge, including launching a
broadband speed test app and, most significantly, undertaking a comprehensive effort—in partnership
with industry, the public research community, and other stakeholders—to provide the first detailed and
accurate measurements of fixed broadband service performance in the United States. This past July, the
FCC released its second Measuring Broadband America report, showing significant improvements in
broadband performance and service offerings as compared to the first report roughly one year earlier.
The FCC now proposes a program to develop information on mobile broadband service performance in
the United States utilizing the collaborative model underlying the success of its fixed broadband program.
As the Measuring Broadband America program has proven, the broadband performance data produced by
the statistically sound methodology of the program allows comparisons and analyses that are valuable to
consumers and spur competition among service providers.
In addition, the experience gained within the Measuring Broadband America program has proven the
value of working with a broad range of participants including industry and the public research community
on the complex technical challenges related to broadband performance measurement and study. The FCC
notes that in launching this effort we have already received commitments to cooperate by major wireless
carriers and CTIA-The Wireless Association®. With the launch of this open meeting, the FCC looks
forward to the participation of other critical stakeholders, including the public research community.
At the open meeting, Commission staff from the Office of Engineering and Technology and the
Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau will discuss with interested parties the technical methods for
performance testing of mobile broadband Internet service, methodological approaches to remotely
acquiring and analyzing such data, and other methodological considerations for the testing of mobile
broadband performance.
The meeting will take place on Friday, September 21, 2012, from 1:30PM-3:30PM Eastern, in the 6th
Floor South Conference Room (6-B516) at 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. Parties
interested in attending or who would like further information may call James Miller at 202-418-7351 or
Walter Johnston at 202-418-0807 or via email at
James.Miller@fcc.gov or
Walter.Johnston@fcc.gov .
Seating is limited.
-FCC-
