The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) unveiled a nationwide broadband map for the U.S. today and first thing came to my mind was, "Why is the west so empty?" Perhaps I should go back to Boston! :).
A nationwide broadband map was first envisioned under the auspices of Broadband Data Improvement Act in 2008. It was funded in 2009 with the passage of the broadband stimulus program under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
The map(s) were less than what we expected but we are happy to learn that it has vast potential to grow. The maps breakdown into multiple categories (ASYMMETRIC XDSL, SYMMETRIC XDSL, OTHER COPPER WIRELINE, CABLE MODEM-DOCSIS 3.0, CABLE MODEM-OTHER, FIBER TO THE END USER,
TERRESTRIAL FIXED WIRELESS-UNLICENSED, TERRESTRIAL FIXED WIRELESS-LICENSED, TERRESTRIAL MOBILE WIRELESS) with abilities to drill down a bit more into speeds etc.
Developer API and ability to download data also provided for those who are interested.
The map is released at www.broadbandmap.gov and according ti NTIA, so far it has cost $200 million, according to Larry Strickling, assistant secretary for communications and information at the Department of Commerce and the administrator for the NTIA.
National Broadband Map Blog!
No comments:
Post a Comment