Broadband Data Transparency Workshop

President Obama is committed to the expansion of broadband Internet access across the United States as a necessary part of the foundation for long-term economic stability and prosperity. The purpose of the October 30, 2009, public meeting is to provide information to the research community regarding the type and availability of broadband data that may be made publicly available for use by researchers, and to hear from this research community with respect to their data needs.

NTIA currently collects broadband related data from several sources. In accordance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Broadband Data Improvement Act, two broadband initiatives within NTIA, the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program, are accumulating a variety of data. The State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program includes data that will populate a comprehensive, interactive, and searchable nationwide inventory map of existing U.S. broadband service capability and availability. During October 2009 and through the Current Population Survey (CPS), the Census Bureau collected data based on questions that NTIA sponsored and developed to obtain up-to-date information on the extent of U.S. broadband adoption and the major reasons why current non-users have not to adopted broadband.

These various data sets may be made publicly available for use by the research community to conduct economic, financial, demographic, and other studies, to the extent allowed under federal disclosure laws.

Data that constitutes pre-decisional, confidential, or financial information or information from applications for the Broadband Technology Opportunities (BTOP) and the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Programs will not be discussed at this meeting. In addition, information regarding the status of the grant programs or specific applications will not be discussed.

Meeting Information

 • October 30, 2009 - Washington, DC
- Federal Register Notice (Acrobat PDF 47 Kb)
- Meeting Agenda (Acrobat PDF 47 Kb)
- NTIA Workshop Slide Presentation (Acrobat PDF 479Kb)