FFB Week 40 – Crowdsource Data and the BEAD State Challenge Process

Broadband offices are busy preparing for their own state challenge process to determine where BEAD funding will be directed. There are unserved areas that all can agree on but others where there is stark disagreement regarding the level of service provided to consumers. Local governments, nonprofits and ISPs will have the opportunity to work with state broadband offices to target communities that the FCC’s map may have misclassified. Crowdsource speed testing will play an important role, particularly with states that are developing their own criteria for determining grant eligibility, as allowed within NTIA rules.

Webinar Presenter:

Bryan Darr, Vice President – Government Affairs, Ookla

Bryan Darr is the Vice-President of Government Affairs at Ookla, spearheading the company’s programs for federal, state and local governments. He also leads Ookla’s advocacy efforts with lawmakers and policy organizations, promoting the value of crowdsourced intelligence to help with better data-driven decisioning.

Bryan has spent most of his professional life in the wireless industry, beginning his career in cellular as a sales representative for Cellular One of Memphis in 1985. After discovering his customers were having difficulty traveling with their phones, he founded Mosaik in 1988 (originally branded as American Roamer) and began developing consumer roaming guides. Soon, Mosaik was researching and designing mobile operator coverage maps enabling them to market the reach of their mobile networks. In June 2018, Mosaik was acquired by Ookla.

Bryan has served on many industry committees during his career. He currently serves on CTIA’s Smart Cities Steering Committee and the Wireless History Foundation’s Board of Directors.