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State Broadband Initiative

NTIA's State Broadband Initiative implements the purposes of both the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which envisioned a comprehensive program -- led by state entities or non-profit organizations working at their direction -- to help integrate broadband and information technology into state and local economies.

Through the State Broadband Initiative (formerly called the State Broadband Data and Development grant program), NTIA awarded a total of $293 million to 56 grantees, one from each of the 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia, or their designees. Grantees are using this funding to support the efficient and creative use of broadband technology to better compete in the digital economy. These state-created efforts vary depending on local needs but include programs to assist small businesses and community institutions in using technology more effectively, conduct research on barriers to broadband adoption, implement innovative applications that increase access to government services and information, and support state and local task forces to expand broadband access and adoption.

Since accurate data is critical for broadband planning, another purpose of the State Broadband Initiative is to assist states in gathering data twice a year on the availability, speed, and location of broadband services, as well as the broadband services that community institutions use. The data will be used by NTIA to update its publicly searchable, interactive National Broadband Map.

See also: NTIA's Recovery Act broadband programs

Related content


Twenty-Sixth Quarterly Status Report to Congress Regarding BTOP

February 05, 2016

Pursuant to Section 6001(d)(4) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA or Recovery Act) (Public Law No. 111-5), NTIA provides this Quarterly Report on the status of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). This Report focuses on the Program’s activities from April 1 to June 30, 2015.

Twenty-Fifth Quarterly Status Report to Congress Regarding BTOP

October 16, 2015

Pursuant to Section 6001(d)(4) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA or Recovery Act) (Public Law No. 111-5), the NTIA provides this Quarterly Report on the status of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. This Report focuses on the Program’s activities from January 1 to March 31, 2015.

Expanding the Benefits of Broadband in New England

September 29, 2015

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s BroadbandUSA team, together with Next Century Cities, a nonprofit initiative of over 100 mayors and community officials dedicated to ensuring the availability of next-generation broadband Internet for all Americans convened a productive broadband workshop yesterday in Portland, Maine to explore ways to close the digital divide and expand broadband capacity throughout the New England region. The Digital New England Summit brought together about 250 broadband experts, community leaders and state and federal officials, including U.S. Senator Angus King, for this day-long gathering.

The event was the third in a series of regional workshops that NTIA is hosting across the country as part of its BroadbandUSA program, which is helping communities expand their local broadband capacity and use. The new initiative builds on lessons learned and best practices from NTIA’s successful broadband grant programs, which officially come to a close tomorrow.  Funded from money from the 2009 Recovery Act, NTIA invested more than $4 billion in roughly 230 projects across the country that have built critical network infrastructure, opened or upgraded public computer centers and established broadband adoption and digital inclusion programs. Our State Broadband Initiative Program invested another $300 million to help states collect broadband data for the National Broadband Map and expand their statewide broadband capacity.

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