ESRI said that Texas has joined a growing number of states using its geographic information system technology to create broadband inventory maps that better position the State for competitive funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

 

Public and private entities are competing for over $4 billion in federal stimulus funds that are expected to be dispersed as grants and loans to build and expand broadband infrastructure, public computing centers, and sustainable broadband adoption programs. Additionally, the Federal funds are also available for states to create and maintain GIS broadband maps.

 

Applicants for broadband stimulus funds can use the maps to provide “compelling evidence” for their cases, according to company officials. The maps will be produced using ESRI's (News - Alert) ArcGIS Desktop and Server software, and in collaboration with Connected Nation, a non profit corporation.

 

Connected Nation (News - Alert) is expected to partner with the Texas Department of Agriculture to create Connected Texas, the entity that will head the broadband initiative. The non profit corporation has also worked with seven other states – Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia – to promote access to and use of high-speed Internet connections.

 

Connected Nation has served as the archetype for the Broadband Data Improvement Act state initiative grant program. And, company’s procedures are “seamlessly” aligned with the goals and guidelines of ARRA, according to officials.

 

Todd Staples, agriculture commissioner for Texas, said that Connected Nation will help Texas close the digital divide between urban and rural communities in our state, adding that by creating a broadband map, “we will learn which areas are un-served and underserved.”

 

“This critical knowledge will lead to developing projects that bring high-speed Internet to all Texans, which will enhance economic development, expand educational opportunities, and improve health care,” said Staples.

 

Connected Nation officials said that the first step in their approach is to create a complete picture of a state’s gaps in broadband coverage by way of intelligent map products that combine service data from broadband providers with detailed, street-level maps and local demographics. Also, Connected Nation offers a toll-free telephone hotline for consumers without Internet access.

 

GIS analysis identifies optimum areas for development potential at the street, household, and census block levels. ESRI officials said that their Web-enabled ArcGIS Server makes it possible to share the maps on the Internet with interactive capabilities, proving service providers, businesses, and consumers access to the broadband coverage information.