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 Department of Technology Services’ Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC), that is responsible for mapping broadband service availability and developing a plan to increase broadband adoption and deployment in the state. The project works with stakeholders to identify critical unserved or underserved areas and populations.

The Utah Broadband Advisory Council

Formed in June 2011, the Utah Broadband Advisory Council meets regularly to examine the condition of broadband adoption and deployment in the state of Utah and provides the Governor and Legislature with recommendations and policy guidance. Members of the Council represent a diverse group of interests including economic development, state and local government, healthcare, education, libraries, transportation, public safety, and tribal entities.

The Advisory Council released their inaugural report in June 2012. The report details the programs and organizations that have made Utah a leader in broad-

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.

band adoption and deployment and highlights the recommendations made by the Council to continue coordinating efforts to expand broadband access and use. Going forward, the Council will engage in targeted approaches to aggregated demand for broadband deployment and extend resources to improve broadband use and accessibility across the state.

Regional Broadband Planning Council Initiative Utah Broadband Project recently launched a Regional Broadband Planning Council Initiative which partners with Utah’s Associations of Governments (AOG). The Regional Broadband Planning Councils will be organized within the seven AOG regions to address broadband planning on a local level. The initiative looks forward to significant community participation. For more information please visit our site at http://broadband.utah.gov/resources/regional-planning/

The Utah Broadband Project team highlights statewide assets during the Utah Rural Legislation Day in the Capitol Rotunda.

Utah Broadband Accolades The Census Bureau reported in June that Utah is number one for Internet access, showing that only 7.5% of Utahns aged three or older do not have Internet access, which is the lowest in the nation. “First Quarter, 2013 State of the Internet” report sited Utah as fastest average Internet connection speed in the West. Utah was ranked No. 5 overall and the only Western state in the top 10.

For additional information about the Utah Broadband Project, visit broadband.utah.gov or contact Project Manager Kelleigh Cole at kcole@utah.gov or 801-538-8831.