Colorado Broadband Footprint Unveiled
December 2, 2009
Colorado is one step closer to having quality, high-speed internet available to all citizens. The Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) has released comprehensive maps depicting broadband availability across the state, the speeds at which service is provided, and the population density of unserved areas. The 2008 Senate Bill 215, sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz and Representative Jim Riesberg, called for the creation of the broadband inventory, which serves as a starting point for developing effective broadband deployment and adoption strategies.
“This is an important advancement in the push for enhanced broadband services and adoption of a technology critical to economic development, heath, education, and civic engagement,” said Gov. Ritter. “Understanding where broadband is deployed today will enable us to make advancements in broadband tomorrow.”
The maps were developed by Connect Colorado, a subsidiary of Connected Nation, who collected the broadband provider data and developed an interactive web service for citizens to check broadband availability, locate providers in their area, and report data inaccuracies.
While the project found the vast majority of Colorado has basic broadband coverage, there are other important factors – such adequate speed and adoption – that contribute to a state’s “broadband fitness.” The project explored these areas, but OIT hopes to round out the work with a $2.1 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that it recently received from the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The funding will enable OIT to continue its broadband data collection and mapping efforts and to help identify priority areas for activities to promote the deployment and use of broadband service.
For more information, visit www.colorado.gov/oit.
Colorado is one step closer to having quality, high-speed internet available to all citizens. The Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) has released comprehensive maps depicting broadband availability across the state, the speeds at which service is provided, and the population density of unserved areas. The 2008 Senate Bill 215, sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz and Representative Jim Riesberg, called for the creation of the broadband inventory, which serves as a starting point for developing effective broadband deployment and adoption strategies.
“This is an important advancement in the push for enhanced broadband services and adoption of a technology critical to economic development, heath, education, and civic engagement,” said Gov. Ritter. “Understanding where broadband is deployed today will enable us to make advancements in broadband tomorrow.”
The maps were developed by Connect Colorado, a subsidiary of Connected Nation, who collected the broadband provider data and developed an interactive web service for citizens to check broadband availability, locate providers in their area, and report data inaccuracies.
While the project found the vast majority of Colorado has basic broadband coverage, there are other important factors – such adequate speed and adoption – that contribute to a state’s “broadband fitness.” The project explored these areas, but OIT hopes to round out the work with a $2.1 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that it recently received from the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The funding will enable OIT to continue its broadband data collection and mapping efforts and to help identify priority areas for activities to promote the deployment and use of broadband service.
For more information, visit www.colorado.gov/oit.
Labels: Connect Colorado
