The Federal Communications Commission is asking Americans to report which Internet services are actually available where they live. It’s part of its plan to update coverage maps in the US.

In the past, the FCC has made these coverage maps with self-reported data from the ISPs themselves. Since the FCC uses these maps as evidence for proposed regulation, it can seriously hinder the FCC’s ability to make sure there’s actual competition in the market.

”we’re going straight to consumers. We’ve been going to Washington.”.”We’ve going to be going straight straight to Americans”.

The FCC is using a form that looks like a general complaint form. It does n’t ask specific questions about broadband at all. But the FCC says it’s a stopgap on the path to a more detailed and specific reporting tool.