Nevada’s New Broadband Map Showcased in Live Demonstration

A screen shot of Connect Nevada's new online mapping app.

Reno, NV – Nevada’s new, powerful broadband map application is now available to everyone online. In an effort to bring quality, high-speed Internet to the entire state, Connect Nevada and the governor’s Broadband Task Force unveiled the cutting-edge mapping technology in a live demonstration on the University of Nevada – Reno campus.

Government and community leaders across all sectors including agriculture, IT, healthcare, and education gathered to learn about the new map and its uses for broadband planning. The live demonstration and simultaneous webinar walked participants through the many ways Nevada’s new broadband map can be fully customized to meet any viewer’s needs. Connect Nevada staff and Nevada Broadband Task Force Chairperson Daphne DeLeon walked attendees through exercises ranging from finding broadband providers at a specific address to viewing unserved Nevada neighborhoods by satellite and then printing or e-mailing maps with customized information.

“In today’s digital world, being connected to the Internet is critical to preserving and improving lifestyle,” said DeLeon. “Whether you live in a rural or urban area, high-speed Internet enables access to quality jobs, information, and vital services ranging from interactive telemedicine to higher education. Broadband gives you the opportunity to work from home, take online classes, and market your products - all of which have a positive impact on the local economy. Yet, for thousands of Nevada residents, affordable access to high-speed Internet is still not available.”

The newly unveiled map confirms that approximately 21,000 Nevada households are still without any broadband service option at all. Connect Nevada, in collaboration with the state’s broadband providers, will update the map on a routine basis to reflect “real-time” broadband availability so that policy makers, Internet providers, and the general public can use the maps to make informed decisions about broadband investment and expansion.

The map is accessible through the Connect Nevada website, www.connectnv.org.

Three Connected Nation States to Launch Broadband Maps This Week

On May 20 and May 21, three Connected Nation state-level broadband initiatives (Connect Michigan, Connect South Carolina, and Connect Minnesota) will unveil newly completed broadband availability maps. Each state will host a webinar to showcase the new maps and demonstrate BroadbandStat, the nation’s leading broadband mapping application. Staff from each state will be available to answer questions and highlight the latest high-speed Internet availability insights drawn from the initiatives.

Below is registration information for each of the Webinars. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your Webinar seat now.

Thursday, May 20, 2010:

Connect Michigan
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/429950754

Friday, May 21, 2010:

Connect South Carolina
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/458962651

Connect Minnesota
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/297901915

VIDEO: Connected Nation and ESRI Talk with NextGenWeb about BroadbandStat

Phillip Brown, Director of Government Affairs & Advocacy at Connected Nation, and Randy Frantz of ESRI, spoke with NextGenWeb on Tuesday, prior to the Internet Caucus Advisory Committee’s 6th Annual State of the Net Conference in Washington, D.C.



Check out NextGenWeb for more.

BroadbandStat: Get a Sneak Peek on Jan. 26 in Washington, D.C.

Download the Invitation and Flyer Here

Screen shot of BroadbandStat in Tennessee, developed by Connected Nation in conjunction with ESRI, a market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software.

On Tuesday, January 26, technology leaders, legislators and the general public in Washington, D.C. will be given a sneak peek at a new cutting-edge hands-on tool for finding real-time information on high-speed Internet availability.

Daryl Phillips, Executive Director of the Hickman County Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), had the opportunity to see the demonstration in Tennessee.

Here’s his reaction:

“Five years ago, we had local business owners that couldn't decide where to locate within the county because they didn't have access to this kind of detailed information,” Phillips said. “Now, business and industry can use this tool for relocation decisions, home buyers can use this while shopping for a home and government and ECD can use it for planning purposes. BroadbandStat gives Tennessee an advantage over other states."

Connected Nation, along with ESRI, will be showcasing BroadbandStat at the kickoff technology policy reception for the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee’s 6th Annual State of the Net Conference.

BroadbandStat was developed by Connected Nation in conjunction with ESRI, the world market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software.

BroadbandStat is a new interactive mapping platform that is a multi-functional, user-friendly way for local leaders, policymakers, consumers and technology providers to devise a plan for the expansion and adoption of broadband.

BroadbandStat is unique because it allows a user to build and evaluate broadband expansion scenarios using a wealth of data, including education and population demographics, current broadband speeds and availability and research about the barriers to adoption. The tool also provides an instant feedback mechanism for consumers to validate broadband data electronically or via phone.

This technology will soon be implemented in 12 different states and one U.S. territory as part of Connected Nation’s federal stimulus funded broadband mapping and planning programs. These mapping activities are supported by State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program funds that are made available through the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for improving broadband accessibility across the nation.

We invite you to stop by and view the demonstration on January 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (EST) at the Hart Senate Office Building, Room 902.

Connected Tennessee Debuts Latest Innovation in Broadband Mapping

Screen shot of BroadbandStat in Tennessee, developed by Connected Nation in conjunction with ESRI, a market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software.

Michael Ramage (left), executive director of Connected Tennessee, showcases BroadbandStat to Connected Tennessee steering committee members.

Today, Connected Tennessee, a Connected Nation state-based initiative, demonstrated a new interactive mapping tool for viewing, analyzing and validating broadband data.

Called BroadbandStat, the new interactive mapping platform is a multi-functional, user-friendly way for local leaders, policymakers, consumers and technology providers to devise a plan for the expansion and adoption of broadband.

BroadbandStat was developed by Connected Nation in conjunction with ESRI, a market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software.

For Bob Mayfield, managing partner of Electronic Communications Systems, a small broadband provider in west Tennessee, the new tool will be extremely helpful as his company plans further coverage.

“BroadbandStat is a very important tool,” Mayfield said. “For providers to be able to look at the market as we are developing our business plans--to see where broadband exists and where the demand is—this is the best thing that’s come out in a while.”

Daryl Phillips, executive director of the Hickman County Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), agreed.

“Five years ago, we had local business owners that couldn't decide where to locate within the county because they didn't have access to this kind of detailed information,” Phillips said. “Now, business and industry can use this tool for relocation decisions, home buyers can use this while shopping for a home and government and ECD can use it for planning purposes. BroadbandStat gives Tennessee an advantage over other states."

During Wednesday’s presentation, Michael Ramage, executive director of Connected Tennessee, showcased the online tool, giving a basic overview of the system, along with highlighting advanced ways to view the data. BroadbandStat is scheduled to launch by late 2009 to early 2010 in Tennessee.

BroadbandStat is unique because it allows a user to build and evaluate broadband expansion scenarios using a wealth of data, including education and population demographics, current broadband speeds and availability and research about the barriers to adoption. The tool also provides an instant feedback mechanism for consumers to validate broadband data electronically or via phone.

The tool will be useful for government agencies, consumers, community leaders, broadband providers and the media. The broadband-related data can be used for grant writing, broadband investment and economic development, and it gives the public the ability to find information about broadband providers, down to the street-level.

Since its inception in 2007, Connected Tennessee has distributed more than 2,100 computers to children, families and community-based organizations through its Computers 4 Kids program.

On Monday, Connected Tennessee highlighted its digital inclusion work at a Federal Communications Commission’s field hearing in Memphis. The field hearing was one of a series of FCC’s public hearings promoting an open discussion between the commission and the public on the development of a national broadband plan.

Related Information:

News Article: 12 States Pick GIS to Help Build Broadband Coverage Maps