This article describes the BDC (Broadband Data Collection) filings feature sets within EDX’s SignalPro.

The FCC is requiring filing of all broadband services to update their currents maps, with detailed information on the availability of fixed and mobile broadband services. Further where there is and is not broadband service.

The FCC BDC Requirements document, Broadband Data Collection Data Specifications for Biannual Submission of Subscription, Availability, and Supporting Data June 17, 2022  , revision 1.0.8 from https://us-fcc.app.box.com/v/bdc-availability-spec describes the parameters for filing.

Sections 8 & Section 6

•   Section 8, Mobile Broadband and Mobile Voice Availability Data

•   Section 6- Fixed Broadband Availability

Subsection 8.1 Mobile Broadband Availability Coverage maps

Mobile broadband service providers are required to submit separate coverage maps based on the following propagation model parameters:

•For 3G coverage, a minimum 90% cell edge probability of a download speed of at least 200 kbps and an upload speed of at least 50 kbps, with a minimum 50% cell loading factor.

•For 4G LTE coverage, a minimum 90% cell edge probability of a download speed of at least 5 Mbps and an upload speed of at least1 Mbps, with a minimum 50% cell loading factor.

•For 5G-NR coverage, two sets of parameters should be modeled for two sets of maps:

1. A minimum 90% cell edge probability of a download speed of at least7Mbps and an upload speed of at least 1 Mbps, with a minimum 50% cell loading factor.

2. A minimum 90% cell edge probability of a download speed of at least 35 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 3 Mbps, with a minimum 50% cell loading factor.

Section 6 Terrestrial Fixed Wireless Reporting

Fixed wireless providers that submit availability information in a coverage polygon format must base their coverage on propagation modeling.  Fixed wireless providers must use the following parameters in their propagation modeling when generating their coverage for BDC:

•A minimum 75% cell edge probability.

•A minimum 50% cell loading factor.

•Receiver heights within a range of four to seven meters

SignalPro

Users can continue using their FWA/Broadband project or import their project into SignalPro.

New users are able to import or create a new project.

Using any technology that pertains to their broadband network users can set up the solution to cater for their BDC filings.

Once the project is set up and ready for BDC filings, user must select, Define Area Studies under the area studies in the project panel, or through the Studies menu.

Open

In the Area Studies GUI select “Add Study…

Open

In the basic study group, select the Study name, Cell Edge Coverage.

This will bring a new selection for “BDC Filing Settings” button – select this.

In the BDC Settings, the user will be able to allocate parameters as per BDC requirements.

The Cell Edge probability (%) is the likelihood that the minimum threshold download and upload speeds with respect to broadband internet access service will be met or exceeded at a distance from a base station that is intended to indicate the ultimate edge of the coverage area of a cell.[1]

• Log Normal Standard deviation (dB) is required for the margin edge margin.

• Use Data Thresholds for uplink and downlink are as required for filings or analysis.

• Cell Loading, “Use Global Cell Loading” this parameter will add the cell loading factor as required.

• Use this for all technologies including 5G & LTE until further notice.

For Minimum Signal use the “Use RSRP Threshold” for all other technologies the signal will be taken from Received at Remote metric.

Once set select “ok”.

Back in the studies GUI, go to mobile/remote unit and select “edit”.

This opens the Mobile/Remote GUI, here you set the noise and load for the RX device.

Select the new advanced “use load-based noise rise” then “Edit Noise Rise Curve” to set the noise vs load.

Here the user can change the Noise to Load graph per device for each analysis.

This will used for the cell loading metrics.

Once the settings are ready user can start the study in SignalPro.

BDC Filing

The BDC filing process for the FCC requires that the BDC covered/not covered areas and the signal level plots be provided in one of a few different GIS file formats, including the ESRI .SHP format. The FCC’s expectation is that the signal level SHP files (RSRP, SS-RSRP, or RSSI)  will be divided into discrete signal level contour areas. In order to support this new requirement EDX has created a new export type that can be found under the Area Studies Details menu, or through the Map Layer menu as well. The new export type is called SHP(Using Bin Ranges), this is what the user will want to export for the BDC fillings.

Once completed it will save the output file in the location you specified. The user can open this in the GIS tool of their choice to verify the results. Here’s an example of an RSRP plot converted to SHP and opened in QGIS.

For more information on exporting BDC filing results please view: New MXX Convert Function for BDC Fillings

Contact EDX Support if you have any difficulty using this conversion tool. 

References:

[1].Definition: cell edge probability from 47 USC § 641(3) | LII / Legal Information Institute .

 https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/ece458/Jakes_Book_optim.pdf page 126 inside PDF

  http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.58.4998&rep=rep1&type=pdf