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Utah Broadband Outreach
GOED works with broadband providers, local, state and federal policymakers, consumers, community institutions, and other stakeholders to support broadband deployment throughout the state, improve efficiencies, and expand statewide broadband access and usage.
Initiatives
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GOED facilitates the Broadband Advisory Council and collaborates with the Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC) to maintain up-to-date online state broadband and economic development commercial maps.
Highlights
We completed spring and fall biannual updates to the online broadband availability maps. AGRC, with the support of GOED, began updating the residential map app to be more user-friendly. The Broadband Advisory Council collaborated with GOED to revise the state’s five-year broadband plan. Gov. Herbert endorsed the council’s broadband plan. The broadband.utah.gov website was updated and transitioned to be administered by GOED. Three rural broadband providers supported by GOED were awarded nearly $30 million in USDA ReConnect grants for rural broadband infrastructure.
Challenges and Achievements
The COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in many more people learning and working remotely, caused an increased demand for available broadband and internet connections. Collaboration with schools, libraries, and broadband providers redirected our focus, while other projects such as efforts to redesign the residential map were put on hold.
One significant outcome was GOED’s creation of a public Wi-Fi availability map. This map identified schools and libraries that were closed but provided accessible Wi-Fi outside their buildings for students and teleworkers.
Outcomes
The state’s broadband outreach and leadership support has continued to grow as the demand for efficient broadband and accessibility in rural and urban areas increases. The demand for and importance of efficient, accessible, and reliable broadband has never been more critical than it is in 2020.
Business Services
Rebecca Dilg
Rural Outreach Manager 801-538-8681 | rdilg@utah.gov
