---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 641"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "641"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/641"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter VII — Broadband Data"
---

# §641. Definitions


In this subchapter:

- (1) **Broadband internet access service—** The term “broadband internet access service” has the meaning given the term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
- (2) **Broadband map—** The term “Broadband Map” means the map created by the Commission under [section 642(c)(1)(A) of this title](/usc/47/642.md?p=c-1-A).
- (3) **Cell edge probability—** The term “cell edge probability” means the likelihood that the minimum threshold download and upload speeds with respect to [broadband internet access service](#1) will be met or exceeded at a distance from a base [station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) that is intended to indicate the ultimate edge of the coverage area of a cell.
- (4) **Cell loading—** The term “cell loading” means the percentage of the available air interface resources of a base [station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) that are used by consumers with respect to [broadband internet access service](#1).
- (5) **Clutter—** The term “clutter” means a natural or man-made surface feature that affects the propagation of a signal from a base [station](/usc/47/153.md?p=42).
- (6) **Fabric—** The term “Fabric” means the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric established under [section 642(b)(1)(B) of this title](/usc/47/642.md?p=b-1-B).
- (7) **Form 477—** The term “Form 477” means Form 477 of the Commission relating to local telephone competition and broadband reporting.
- (8) **Indian Tribe—** The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given the term “Indian tribe” in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md).
- (9) **Mobility Fund Phase II—** The term “Mobility Fund Phase II” means the second phase of the proceeding to provide universal service support from the Mobility Fund (WC Docket No. 10–90; WT Docket No. 10–208).
- (10) **Propagation model—** The term “propagation model” means a mathematical formulation for the characterization of radio wave propagation as a function of frequency, distance, and other conditions.
- (11) **Provider—** The term “provider” means a provider of fixed or mobile [broadband internet access service](#1).
- (12) **Quality of service—** The term “quality of service” means, with respect to [broadband internet access service](#1), the download and upload speeds (and, for relevant services, latency) with respect to that service, as determined by, and to the extent otherwise collected by, the Commission.
- (13) **Shapefile—** The term “shapefile” means a digital storage format containing geospatial or location-based data and attribute information—
  - (A) regarding the availability of [broadband internet access service](#1); and
  - (B) that can be viewed, edited, and mapped in geographic information system software.
- (14) **Standard broadband installation—** The term “standard broadband installation”—
  - (A) means the initiation by a [provider](#11) of fixed [broadband internet access service](#1) in an area in which the [provider](#11) has not previously offered that service, with no charges or delays attributable to the extension of the network of the [provider](#11); and
  - (B) includes the initiation of fixed [broadband internet access service](#1) through routine installation that can be completed not later than 10 business days after the date on which the service request is submitted.

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VIII, § 801, as added Pub. L. 116–130, § 2, Mar. 23, 2020, 134 Stat. 228.)