Utah Broadband Project

OVERVIEW

The Utah Broadband Project is a joint effort between the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC), to develop a statewide map of available broadband services and a plan to increase broadband adoption and deployment in the State The project will help identify critical unserved or underserved areas and populations This information will help in the development of a plan to expand affordable, reliable broadband services to every citizen of the State

Like electricity a century ago, high-speed Internet access, or “broadband” is now a driver for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life It provides the capability for people to interact in new ways, resulting in the creation of new industries, and is unlocking vast new opportunities for existing ones It is changing how we educate children; deliver health care; manage energy; ensure public safety; engage government; and access, organize and disseminate knowledge

The Utah Broadband Project has formed public-private partnerships with broadband providers across the State With the engagement of these providers, the Project will establish a quantifiable long-term vision for expanding reliable high-speed Internet access statewide The Project team is working closely with providers as well as anchor institutions and public-interest organizations focusing on higher education, K-12, health care, public safety, libraries, economic development and tribal entities to identify currently unserved or underserved areas and populations

Ensuring broadband access to both rural and urban Utah communities is a priority for the Utah Broadband Project. Here, fiber is being laid along the I-80 corridor.

Project Milestones

• The official project website, broadband utah gov, was launched in January 2011 and features the Utah Broadband Map, a broadband connection speed test, current project information and continual news updates • In June 2011, the Utah

Broadband Advisory Council was formed to examine the condition of broadband adoption and deployment and will provide the Governor and Legislature with policy guidance and recommendations The Council will also solicit input and receive recommendations from broadband providers across the State on how to effectively reach these goals • The Project team has been meeting with economic development groups and providers across the State to discuss regional strategies for adoption and deployment

Do you know how your community stacks up?

Go to broadband. utah.gov and use the interactive map to enter your location into the search box to see the coverage in your area.

For additional information about the Utah Broadband Project, visit broadband.utah.gov or contact Project Manager Tara Thue at tthue@utah.gov or 801-538-8742.