Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.

Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Commerce Department's NTIA Awards Grants for Broadband Mapping and Planning in Alabama, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 06, 2009
News Media Contact
Jessica Schafer

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Alabama, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming under NTIA's State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. The data will be displayed in NTIA's national broadband map, a tool that will inform policymakers' efforts and provide consumers with improved information on the broadband Internet services available to them.

NTIA received applications representing all 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia to participate in the program, meaning that all governments that were eligible to apply for grants did so, whether directly or through a designated entity. The first eight grants under this program were announced last month and the agency expects to continue announcing awards on a rolling basis throughout the fall.

"This program will advance efforts to expand broadband access and adoption nationwide, which is vital to job creation and economic recovery," said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling. "NTIA will continue to provide guidance to applicants where necessary to help them improve their proposed projects, so that all states and territories can soon participate in this initiative."

Alabama: NTIA has awarded the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) approximately $1.4 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and approximately $463,000 for broadband planning activities over a two-year period in Alabama, bringing the total grant award to almost $1.9 million. ADECA the designated entity for the state of Alabama.

Idaho: NTIA has awarded the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology approximately $1.3 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and approximately $492,000 for broadband planning activities over a three-year period in Idaho, bringing the total grant award to approximately $1.8 million. The Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, a private nonprofit center, is the designated entity for the state of Idaho.

Maryland: NTIA has awarded the Maryland Broadband Cooperative Inc. (MDBC) approximately $1.5 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and almost $480,000 for broadband planning activities over a five-year period in Maryland, bringing the total grant award to approximately $2 million. MDBC is the designated entity for the state of Maryland.

Massachusetts: NTIA has awarded the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) over $1.5 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a five-year period in Massachusetts, bringing the total grant award to approximately $2 million. MBI is the designated entity for the state of Massachusetts.

Washington: NTIA has awarded the Washington State Department of Information Services (DIS) approximately $1.7 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and almost $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a two-year period in Washington, bringing the total grant award to approximately $2.2 million. DIS is the designated entity for the state of Washington.

Wisconsin: NTIA has awarded the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approximately $1.2 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and approximately $485,000 for broadband planning activities over a three-year period in Wisconsin, bringing the total grant award to approximately $1.7 million. PSC is the designated entity for the state of Wisconsin.

Wyoming: NTIA has awarded the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology approximately $1.3 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and almost $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a three-year period in Wyoming, bringing the total grant award to approximately $1.8 million. The Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology is the designated entity for the state of Wyoming.

NTIA carefully evaluates each application to determine whether the applicant directly represents the interests of the state. This state-applicant connection is especially critical in the context of the broadband planning activities that NTIA considers the responsibility of the state. The States of Wyoming and Idaho are providing direction and supervision to the planning activities that will be undertaken by their designated entity, which is a non-state government entity, to ensure that planning funds are used to address the specific needs of the state.

Awardees will collect and verify the availability, speed, and location of broadband across the state. This activity is to be conducted on a semi-annual basis between 2009 and 2011, with the data to be presented in a clear and accessible format to the public, government, and the research community.

The State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program is a matching grant program that implements the joint purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA). The program will provide grants to assist states or their designees in gathering and verifying state-specific data on the availability, speed, location, and technology type of broadband services. The data they collect and compile will also be used to develop publicly available state-wide broadband maps and to inform the comprehensive, interactive, and searchable national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.

The national broadband map will publicly display the geographic areas where broadband service is available; the technology used to provide the service; the speeds of the service; and broadband service availability at public schools, libraries, hospitals, colleges, universities, and public buildings. The national map will also be searchable by address and show the broadband providers offering service in the corresponding census block or street segment.

Awardees are required to contribute at least 20 percent non-federal matching funds toward project costs. In addition, while the BDIA mandates that each state may designate only one eligible entity to receive funds under the program, each state's applicant will be carefully evaluated and must meet the standards described in NTIA's Notice of Funds Availability for this program in order to receive funding.

U.S. Department of Commerce's NTIA serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on communications and information policy. For more information about the NTIA, visit www.ntia.doc.gov.

- # -