Challenge Process FAQs

Q: I'm an internet provider and a location we service is not reflecting that. What is the best way to get the map updated to reflect that?
A: We recognize there is not an ideal path to this challenge in the portal. Technically this should be an availability challenge (that it IS available in this case) but all the secondary options are all to challenge that service is not available. The portal does not account for this scenario. Many ISPs have submitted these challenges as Planned Service already. We have determined that we will accept these challenges either way – as long as the evidence clearly supports that the location is served at the speeds indicated.

The benefit to an availability challenge - an area challenge can be triggered by selecting 6 or more addresses within one census block group.

Challenges must:

• • be an availability challenge
  • be 6 or more locations
  • be contained to one census block group
  • challenge to the same provider
  • use the same technology

Evidence must:

• • Identify which locations are supported within the census block group
  • Show what speeds are supported at each location

Our ultimate goal is to ensure the accuracy of the map.

Q: My location says it is BEAD ineligible due to an enforceable commitment? What does that mean? Can I still file a challenge?
A: You are always welcome to file a challenge to correct the map. If you are covered under an enforceable commitment, that means a grant has already been awarded and your location will be serviced by the terms of that grant. In an effort to prevent overbuild, these locations are not eligible for BEAD funding.

Q: Is there any way to submit a bulk challenge?
A: Challenges are limited to 50 locations per submission. You can use the lasso tool to circle locations or ctrl-click multiple locations. Evidence must support all locations included in the challenge.

Q: How do I challenge a location that my company provides service to? The options for an Availability challenge don't seem to apply.
A: The best option to challenge locations you have already completed build out to would be under Enforceable Commitment (if it was done under a grant) or Planned Service. In the comments, note that it has been completed. Include evidence that the work was done - contracts, permits, and speed tests to validate the speed requirements were met.

Q: How long do advocates have to file a challenge?
A: 30 days from the day the Challenge Process begins

Q: How do I confirm my challenge was submitted?
A: If you refresh the browser window in the challenge portal, you should see a dot in the location of your challenge. NBO will also post all challenges to the website at https://broadband.nebraska.gov/challenge/results/ weekly.

Q: Why was my challenge rejected?
Possible reasons are:

• The address challenged does not match the address in the evidence file.
• The evidence submitted did not include the required number of pieces.
• The evidence submitted does not display the required information (i.e. date, time.
• The location is an apartment building and no unit was specified.  
• All evidence of communication must be written (letter, email, or screenshot). A log of a phone call or conversation does not meet the standard of evidence.

Q: The form is asking me to identify technology. How do I know what to select?
A: Refer to the information box above the challenge for the NE BSL.

Q: The location's dot is green, but the service is below 100/20. Why is it saying it is served or ineligible for BEAD funding?
A: If you refer to the info box of the BSL, it likely shows it is covered under an enforceable commitment - that it is already receiving funding under another program. Refer to the last two lines that itemize any grant programs or comment. 

Q: I'm having trouble accessing the Availability Map. It asks me to sign in. 
A: To comply with the licensing restrictions of the location data, this site requires cross-site features to be enabled. If you receive a prompt to "Sign in" when loading the map try changing the settings in your browser to disable the "Prevent cross-site tracking" option by going to Settings and then Privacy.

Q: There are large areas showing unserved or underserved in our area.  Many of these areas have been built out using Bridge or NIEF grant funding from the State of Nebraska.  These areas are still shown as not being served in the portal.
A: For locations that are served by another grant and are not reflected on the Nebraska Broadband Availability Map, you would mount an Enforceable Commitment challenge to correct this information. Please support this with appropriate evidence of addresses/locations served, documentation of the grant awarded, the speed that will be provided, and expected completion date.

Q: I am not certain what version of the map is currently being shown.  
A: The NDOT map is based on Fabric Version 3.2 (June 30, 2023).

Q: What kind of evidence can be given to show that our company provides service to multiple locations? 
We encourage you to provide the strongest evidence you can to make your case. This could include CSV files or other documentation of your service area.

Q: If I am an ISP that serves a location that is not reflected as so on the map. What type of challenge should I submit?
This would be an Availability challenge. 

Q: Who do we list as a “Service Provider” on the challenge?  Ourselves?
Yes. ISPs submitting challenges will need to select themselves as the provider. 

Q: If I submit a challenge to my own service area do I need to provide a rebuttal?
You will not need to provide rebuttal evidence. You should go into the rebuttal form and select the ‘agree’ option on the challenge. 

Q: What are our choices going to be to select the technology challenge? 
You would select the technology you are challenging and provide evidence that is not the technology at that location - i.e. manufacturer and model number of residential gateway (CPE) that demonstrates the service is delivered via a specific technology.

Q: How would we claim projects that would be completed before July 2025?

• For projects that are being completed as part of a grant, submit as an Enforceable Commitment
• For projects that are privately funded, submit as Planned Service. NBO will follow up to require a signed letter of commitment.

Q: We noticed that some of the CAI locations found within our area are listing that their service is 0/0.  How do we correct the listing of these CAI locations to claim that they are offered broadband at the “served”?

• If the CAI is marked as served by your ISP, but the speeds are incorrect, you would submit a Speed challenge and offer evidence according to the speed test evidence.
• If the CAI is not marked as served by your ISP, you would want to submit an Availability challenge.

 

Q: What is the served threshold for CAIs?
CAIs are considered served at 1000/1000.

Q: Could the location IDs at the bottom of the provider page be updated to reflect the enforceable commitments?
We are working on a solution for this.

Q: I was notified that we were named as the provider in a challenge. The evidence submitted doesn’t support the claim. What should we do?

• Providers are notified automatically by the portal when challenges are submitted. All challenges are reviewed for minimum level of evidence (MLE) by NBO after they are received. Challenges without sufficient evidence will be determined as incomplete based on technical requirements, and would not require rebuttal.
• You can still submit a rebuttal to highlight why the evidence submitted is in error. 
• NBO will post all challenges and statuses to the website on Fridays. If a challenge was found to be incomplete (and not require a rebuttal), that information will be available there.