Larson Announces Recovery Act Funding for Broadband Expansion in Connecticut
For Immediate Release: January 12, 2010
Contact: Paul Mounds 860-278-8888
Larson Announces Recovery Act Funding for Broadband Expansion in Connecticut
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman John B. Larson joined the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to announce that the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) were awarded $1.8 million dollars in Recovery Act funding to support broadband planning efforts and expand broadband access throughout Connecticut. Of the funding, $1.3 million will be used for broadband data collection and mapping activities and $500,000 will be used for broadband planning activities. All of the activities will be funded over a two-year period.
"We must provide our children and our communities the tools and capabilities to compete in a global economy. This funding will allow Connecticut to identify the regions within the state lacking the infrastructure for broadband services while supporting the expansion of this technology throughout the state," said Congressman Larson. "At the current technological growth rate of our world, we cannot afford for one child or one resident in Connecticut to be left behind."
Congressman Larson added, "Congress and the Obama Administration, with the passage of the Recovery Act and timely release of funds to the states, truly understand the importance of stimulating our economy and encouraging technological innovation."
Background on the Recovery Act's State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program:
The State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program, a matching grant program, implements the joint purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA). Funded by ARRA, 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 collected and compiled 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.
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