FCC Publishes 4G LTE Coverage Map. 417K Cell Sites as of 2020; Projected 35.7M “Radio Units” (5G/4G Small Cells, etc.) by 2026

By B.N. Frank

American opposition to cell towers and antennas near homes, schools and firefighter stations pre-dates both 4G and 5G. The controversial “Race to 5G” requires the densification of both 4G and 5G transmitters, hence there are plans to install tens of millions more by 2026.

Even if you aren’t opposed to 5G deployment due to concerns about reduced property value (see 1, 2, 3, 4), public safety (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), health (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), cybersecurity (see 1, 2), privacy (see 1, 2), economic, and/or environmental risks (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) – so far, consumer reports have indicated that 4G service is still better and safer than 5G (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). 4G service is also already available in many parts of the U.S.

From Fierce Wireless:

FCC publishes first-ever standardized 4G LTE coverage map

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published its first map that shows 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage across the U.S.

The map shows coverage as of May 15, 2021. Users can click boxes to show the coverage of each of the nation’s four largest mobile carriers: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular. These four wireless service providers voluntarily submitted the coverage data to create the map.

Specifically, the map shows where customers can expect to receive 4G LTE service at a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps and upload speed of 1 Mbps.

To use the map, consumers can enter in specific addresses or zoom in to locations to see where 4G LTE mobile data and voice service is available. Users can also click boxes to show broadband and voice coverage on separate layers. Or they can click all the boxes to show the gaps in coverage across the U.S.

The FCC, under its Acting Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, is determined to get more thorough and accurate maps of broadband coverage across the country. Under her leadership, the Broadband Data Task Force was created in February 2021 to implement long-overdue improvements to the FCC’s broadband data and maps. The new 4G LTE map was created by the Broadband Data Task Force.

For too long the FCC has not had truly accurate broadband maps. But we’re changing that. Starting right here and now. This is the first-of-its-kind wireless coverage map the agency has produced. And we’re just getting started. More to come.https://t.co/FhgddIgRfh

— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) August 6, 2021

Other maps are coming

The new mobile map provides a preview of how mobile data will be collected by the FCC in the future as it improves the specificity and consistency of its broadband availability data.

For fixed internet service, the FCC aims for its maps to show broadband internet access on a house-by-house, location-by-location basis. “Broadband internet access” means that service is available or could be connected within 10 business days with a standard installation.

The FCC will standardize location data through the use of a common dataset of all structures in the United States where mass-market fixed broadband internet service can be installed. It will also validate provider-submitted data and allow users to challenge the information shown on the maps.

Decent broadband mapping has become extremely urgent as the government is poised to infuse billions into broadband infrastructure in its effort to close the digital divide.

For instance, the FCC recently said it was ready to release the first batch of funding — some $311 million — from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction. But in the same breath the agency revealed a long list of winning bidders have already defaulted on their obligations and hinted many more could soon follow suit.

The main reason that RDOF bidders are backing out of their commitments is because once they dug into the details of their service areas, they discovered that many of these areas were already served — the maps they had initially relied on just weren’t accurate.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is supposed to protect Americans from the telecom and cable industries. Unfortunately they haven’t been for decades (see 1, 2). This trend has become worse during the Biden, Trump, and Obama Administrations (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Lawsuits have been filed against the agency for NOT protecting the public from unsafe levels of cell phone and WiFi radiation as well as 5G on Earth (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and in space as well as for allowing telecom and cable companies to also overcharge Americans for decades.

In May, scientists submitted a letter to President Biden asking him to protect the public from 5G and other unsafe technology. Americans opposed to 5G may click here to sign a letter asking the Biden administration to stop deployment immediately.

Opposition to 5G is worldwide. Cities and entire countries have taken action to ban, delay, halt, and limit installation AS WELL AS issue moratoriums. Since 2017, doctors and scientists have been asking for moratoriums on Earth and in space (see 1, 2). Since 2018 there have been reports of people and animals experiencing symptoms and illnesses after it was installed (see 1. 2, 3, 4). The majority of scientists oppose deployment.

Activist Post reports regularly about The FCC and unsafe technology. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites: