Gillespie County Joins Innovative Broadband Expansion Effort

Leaders enlist in the Texas ‘Connected’ program to bridge technology gap, boost economy, and quality of life

GILLESPIE COUNTY, TX  - Gillespie County leaders are now the first in the state to enroll their community in an innovative program that seeks to boost the local economy and quality of life for residents though increased access, adoption, and use of broadband.

Staff from Connected Texas, the statewide nonprofit promoting broadband expansion, are leading Gillespie County leaders through the steps of the new “Connected” community certification program that offers a comprehensive and localized way for communities to bridge the digital divide impacting many communities.

The most current Connected Texas research shows that only 63% of Gillespie County has terrestrial broadband service available at the minimum federal speed of 768 Kbps or above. And for those who have service available, only 48% have adopted the service. That contrasts sharply with the fact that Texas businesses with broadband average $200,000 more in annual median revenues than businesses without. But, a major step forward in closing the digital divide came when officials decided to enroll in the Connected community certification program though Connected Texas.

“One of my pet projects has been and continues to be better high-speed Internet for rural Gillespie County,” said County Economic Development Director Tim Lehmberg. “Topographical considerations leave many of us with only one option which is very limiting and can be extremely frustrating, so it didn’t take much arm-twisting to get me involved in the Connected Texas initiative.”

“Having and using the broadband Internet is critical to the economic vitality of today's local communities,” said Connected Texas Executive Director Don Shirley. “We are excited Gillespie County economic development and local leaders are working with us to proactively address their broadband needs.”

The Connected certification program entails building a comprehensive action plan for developing a technology-ready community by reviewing the technology landscape, developing regional partnerships, establishing local teams, and conducting thorough community assessments.

“Gillespie County is home to many people who have the means to be living anywhere in the world,” said Lehmberg. “These folks continue to run businesses and manage investments from their homes in the county with unacceptable Internet. If collecting and furnishing data for this program will formally demonstrate a need for broadband expansion in our county, then that’s a good first step.”

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Connected Texas to Host State’s First Broadband Summit June 5-7 at TIA 2012: Inside the Network

First Annual Event to Address Job Creation, Innovation, Expanding Broadband in Rural Areas of the State

AUSTIN, TX ‑ Connected Texas will bring together key stakeholders from across the state for its first annual Broadband Summit Tuesday, June 5, in Dallas as part of the TIA 2012: Inside the Network event. The summit will focus on spurring technology jobs, innovation, and closing the broadband gap in rural Texas.

The Broadband Summit will kick off the Telecommunications Industry Association’s (TIA) annual Conference and Exhibition, TIA 2012: Inside the Network – June 5-7 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Dallas.

“Texas is the right place to host a hallmark gathering like TIA 2012 and this year we are proud to join forces to hold Connected Texas’ first Broadband Summit where we will focus on keeping Texas at the forefront of technology adoption and connectivity,” said Connected Texas Executive Director Don Shirley. “The summit is an opportunity to bring influencers and partners from both the public and private sectors together to further our plans for increased broadband access, adoption and use across the state.”

“As the leading Information and Communications Technology industry group in the United States, TIA actively supports efforts to bridge the ‘digital divide’ in our country,” said TIA President Grant Seiffert. “Our technology supplier members welcome the role of Connected Nation in finding new models and partnerships that bring the benefits of broadband connectivity and services to all sectors of our society. TIA 2012 offers the perfect venue for developing new business opportunities aimed at delivering these benefits.”

The Broadband Summit will bring together leaders spanning the state and sectors such as government, telecom, business, tribal, healthcare, and education to focus on strategies for increasing access in the state’s rural areas and growing digital literacy among vulnerable communities. Connected Texas research shows that less than half – 48 percent – of the state’s rural residents subscribe to broadband, cutting them off from the economic, educational, and quality of life opportunities available through a broadband connection.

More details about the summit will be released as it approaches.

In addition to the Connected Texas Broadband Summit, TIA 2012: Inside the Network, will also host a Connected Nation workshop on public-private partnerships bridging broadband access and adoption gaps. TIA 2012 is the one event focused on the people, products and companies driving innovation and optimization of the network. More information on TIA 2012 is available at tia2012.org.

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Connected Texas Releases 2011 Residential Broadband Adoption Survey Results

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38% of Texas residents still do not subscribe to broadband at home

Austin, TX – Today, Connected Texas released new residential broadband adoption survey results revealing the top trends in technology use among key demographics in Texas. The preliminary indicators from the survey are available online, which gives a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities for expanding broadband in targeted sectors. Most notably, the majority of low-income, rural, senior, disabled adult, and Hispanic households are without broadband at home, leaving them facing an uphill battle in keeping up with essential online resources, job and educational opportunities, and social services.

“This new research offers us critical insight into how we need to plan local and regional broadband expansion,” said Connected Texas Executive Director Don Shirley. “The goal of our initiative is quality broadband access, adoption, and use across the state. We will use these new findings to create customized plans that directly target the Texas communities and residents who face the biggest challenges to realizing the life-changing benefits that broadband can bring.”

This survey is conducted in support of Connected Texas’ efforts to close the state’s digital gap. The survey explores the main barriers to adoption – cost, digital skills, and relevance – and also provides unique insights into the national broadband landscape.

This survey reveals that:

• 1.2 million people living in rural areas do not subscribe to broadband service at home.
• When comparing to the 62% of all households that do subscribe, there remain large gaps among key demographics:
• 61% of low-income households;
• 59% of Hispanic households; and
• 57% of seniors are without broadband.
• Approximately 865,000 children in low-income households are without access to this essential tool at home.
• 1.4 million Texas adults say a lack of digital skills and knowledge of how to use a computer and broadband is the main reason they don’t have broadband at home.
• The biggest gap is among low-income rural Texans. Only 28% of low-income rural Texans subscribe to broadband and only 47% have a computer at home.

These results and comparisons to many others are available on Connected Texas’ new consumer trends widget. This interactive tool gives people the ability to view, share, and download the results. Connected Texas will use these survey results to target solutions in communities based on the demographic and economic barriers that the surveys indicate are most relevant to those communities.

This release comes on the heels of the FCC’s newly released plans to launch a comprehensive public-private initiative called Connect to Compete, aimed at extending digital literacy training and providing employment assistance to communities. Connected Texas’ parent organization, Connected Nation, is one of the top strategic advisors in the national initiative.

Connected Texas’ 2011 residential survey was conducted in the summer of 2011 and includes responses from 3,597 residents. The survey was conducted as part of the State Broadband Initiative (SBI) grant program, funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment of 2009.

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New Connected Texas Report Reveals Broadband Key to Higher Business Revenue

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Survey confirms opportunities for technology growth and innovation among business sectors

Austin, TX — A new report by Connected Texas confirms Texas businesses with a broadband connection are likely to generate more revenue and jobs. Businesses with high-speed Internet connections report having median annual revenues $200,000 greater than businesses without broadband. Currently, 73% of Texas businesses use broadband, but the research estimates that approximately 140,000 Texas businesses still do not use broadband technology today.

"Broadband connectivity is a job creator, opening the doors to the global economy by allowing communities to attract new businesses,” said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. "High-speed Internet access improves educational and health care opportunities, and allows families and businesses to live and work in rural areas while staying connected to urban populations and the rest of the world. Private investment in broadband connectivity and infrastructure can lead to a more prosperous Texas."

The Business Technology Assessment is the first of its kind and takes an in-depth look at all sectors of the state’s economy. A new interactive application is available on the Connected Nation website where the public, local planners and broadband providers can use it to see the impact on specific sectors of the state’s economy, from health care and manufacturing, to tourism and education.

“In the digital economy, businesses must embrace broadband, and other transformative technologies like it, in order to survive,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connected Nation, Connected Texas’ parent organization. “The Internet is driving products and services to the marketplace in an environment where creativity and innovation are both reinforced and rewarded.”

Connected Texas is a statewide public-private partnership working to expand broadband. The Business Technology Assessment reveals how technology is being used by businesses and where gaps still remain across the state. Connected Texas will work with local leaders and broadband providers, applying the data to expand the availability and use of reliable and affordable broadband through market-based initiatives.

Findings from this survey illustrate a significant correlation between high-speed Internet adoption and a business’s bottom line. Specific examples extrapolated from the data include:

• Businesses with high-speed Internet connections report having median annual revenues $200,000 more than businesses without broadband.

• One-half of all Texas businesses (approximately 261,000 businesses) have a website. Median annual revenues among broadband-connected businesses with websites are $300,000 higher than those without.

• Approximately 95% of Texas businesses using broadband today report that they are satisfied with their broadband service, with 64% answering that they are “Very Satisfied” with their broadband.

• Rural Texas businesses report needing more bandwidth at greater percentages than their urban or rural counterparts.

• Approximately 27% of all businesses – and 28% of small businesses with fewer than five employees – do not use broadband for their daily business needs.

• Roughly one-quarter of state businesses allow employees to telework, allowing workers more flexibility and job opportunities, and helping businesses operate more efficiently.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program (SBDD) funds the program. Connected Texas’ broadband mapping efforts are in compliance with NTIA’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the SBDD and are reflected in the national broadband map.

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Related Links:

Press Release: Connected Texas Unveils Detailed Assessment of State’s Broadband Capacity

Press Release: Commissioner Staples Releases Statewide Map to Identify Broadband Needs Across Texas

Press Release: Connected Texas Garners New Grant to Extend Broadband Expansion Efforts in Texas

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Connected Texas Unveils Detailed Assessment of State’s Broadband Capacity

Report is first step in developing regional plans for expansion of broadband availability and utilization

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Austin, TX – Connected Texas has released a new, detailed report titled, The Broadband Landscape in the State of Texas: Assessment at a State, Regional & Local Level, and Recommendations for Broadband Expansion, that offers a first look at key broadband market data that will be used to form a strategic plan for broadband expansion in Texas. This is the next step in the federally funded effort to expand broadband access and utilization in Texas. The assessment is a working report and will be updated as this process continues and as additional feedback and data is collected.

“This critical assessment of our broadband landscape can be used by businesses, communities, educational and healthcare systems to grow the Texas job market,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. “We appreciate Connected Texas’ effort in developing this assessment and look forward to working with the Texas Broadband Task Force to promote market-based concepts to expand broadband availability and utilization, resulting in jobs and economic opportunity for all Texans.”

Connected Texas conducted this assessment of the broadband market in Texas utilizing federal funds awarded by the National Telecommunications and Information Agency. This working paper aims to provide an assessment of the current state of broadband in Texas. Broadband stakeholders in the state can use the report to help develop strategies to expand and enhance broadband use for all Texans.

The assessment gives a snapshot of current broadband availability and usage in Texas, defines where and why availability gaps exist, offers recommendations to close the gaps, and presents a technology assessment of the current broadband service infrastructure in Texas.

“The Connected Texas planning report has been crafted to serve as an invaluable tool for all entities in Texas working to expand broadband,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connected Texas’ parent organization, Connected Nation. “This assessment, which will be updated as the project progresses, advances the understanding of broadband availability and use, as well as the planning projects to expand broadband use. Importantly, it demonstrates how local officials can utilize Connected Texas resources to increase broadband availability in the future.”

Highlights from the report:

• Texas’ broadband marketplace is defined by its sheer size. Large in population and geographic size, Texas is also notable for the diversity of its landmass, which has a definite impact on broadband deployment to date.
• Based on Connected Texas’ current mapping data, fixed broadband at minimum download speeds of 768 Kbps or above was available to approximately 7.14 million households, or approximately 96% of all Texan households. This implies that approximately 249,110 Texans remain unserved by terrestrial, fixed broadband.
• It is further estimated that 7.05 million, or roughly 95% of, households across Texas have access to broadband services available at download speeds of 3 Mbps or above – a service level identified by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration as necessary for effectively operating many Internet applications. This implies that approximately 100,000, or about 1% of, households across Texas are considered underserved.
• At a county level, significant variance in broadband availability across rural and non-rural counties is measured at different speed tiers or from platform to platform.
• According to a residential survey of 1,221 Texas households, approximately two-fifths (38%) of Texas residents do not have broadband service in the home, a figure that is below the national adoption gap measured by the FCC.
• Slightly more than one-third of Texas households have access to basic broadband services but, for various reasons, are choosing not to subscribe to the service in their home. Of the estimated 38% of Texans without a home broadband connection, 30% report a lack of interest in broadband, 27% report a lack of computer as the primary barrier to broadband, 21% say broadband is too expensive, and 12% report lack of broadband availability to their home.

Connected Texas is the state’s designated entity for the statewide broadband mapping and planning initiative under the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) program. Over the course of a five-year award period, the project aims to expand broadband access and use across the state by mapping broadband availability, identifying barriers to broadband adoption, and assisting regional leaders in accomplishing goals for increased broadband access and use. Connected Texas will continue to gather and compile semi-annual updates on the broadband maps and planning recommendations over the next four years.

All Texas residents are encouraged to visit the Connected Texas website, http://www.connectedtx.org/, to join in this important initiative and offer feedback. The website gives residents a resource where they can find broadband providers at their address, check their current Internet speeds, notify officials of unserved areas, and share stories of how high-speed Internet has impacted their lives.

What others are saying about the broadband report:

“The picture of broadband availability and adoption in our state just got a whole lot clearer with the unveiling by Connected Texas of The Broadband Landscape in the State of Texas report. For those engaged in strategic planning, policy development and implementation, and budgeting at the local, regional, and state levels, this report is a treasure trove of current reliable, valid data that, for the first time, gives an accurate picture of broadband deployment and use by households as well as by community anchor institutions, such as public libraries. Now that we have benchmarks, we can set goals for progress in statewide broadband adoption and determine the resources it will take to meet those goals.”

-Peggy D. Rudd, Director and Librarian of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission

“TechAmerica has been honored to serve as a member of the Texas Broadband Task Force and honored to offer the technology industry’s perspective to the Task Force’s work. Together, we are helping fulfill the state’s vision of delivering quality broadband Internet access to all corners of Texas and we applaud Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples for his leadership of this group.

“Today’s release of the Texas planning report is an important and critical first step in bringing the promise of high-speed Internet connectedness to every Texas community. This report identifies areas in which our state’s telecommunications infrastructure is lacking and ways in which we can bridge the gaps. Expanded broadband Internet access will afford Texas greater access to economic opportunity, information, medical services, entertainment, and communications that will improve their everyday lives.

“We will continue to work with the task force to see broadband availability expanded to all areas of the state and to increase consumer use of communications technologies that can improve the quality of life in Texas communities. Our state’s continued economic development depends upon it.”

-Jeffrey Clark, Regional Vice President, TechAmerica, The Association of Companies Driving Innovation Worldwide


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Related Links:
Press Release: Commissioner Staples Releases Statewide Map to Identify Broadband Needs Across Texas
Press Release: Connected Texas Garners New Grant to Extend Broadband Expansion Efforts in Texas
Press Release: Texas Department of Agriculture: Texas Receives $3 Million for Broadband Mapping and Planning

Connected Texas Garners New Grant to Extend Broadband Expansion Efforts in Texas

Recovery Act Grant Will Extend Mapping Efforts and Fund the Creation of Regional Technology Planning Teams to Address Broadband Barriers

Austin, TX – Connected Texas, a nonprofit initiative, will receive $4.9 million in federal funding to support efforts to increase broadband across Texas. Among the objectives of the new project, Connected Texas, in coordination with the Texas Department of Agriculture and local leaders, will establish approximately 29 regional technology planning teams across the Lone Star State. Each team will establish benchmarks, goals, and a strategic plan that will dramatically improve services in unserved and underserved communities. The grant funds come to the Connected Texas initiative by way of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) grant program.

The newly awarded SBDD grant will support Connected Texas’ work in four vital areas including:

• Collection of crucial broadband market data at a local level
• Centralizing and streamlining efforts to build new broadband capacity across Texas
• Technical assistance to communities and providers working to expand broadband services
• Fostering awareness and development via regional technology planning teams and “Community Champions”

The impact of Connected Texas’ work is beginning to be felt in communities like Chireno, Texas. As a recent San Antonio Express-News article explains, the Connected Texas initiative is ready to help community leaders with custom problem-solving solutions for small towns like Chireno that need, but currently lack, broadband service. The grant funding will allow Connected Texas to help make quality broadband service a reality for all Texans by providing wireless assessments, cost feasibility help, and other technical and planning assistance to areas in dire need.

“This is great news for the push to expand broadband across rural Texas. With this funding we will be able to take efforts to the next level and form more than two dozen regional teams that will help pinpoint and address local broadband challenges all across the state,” explains Brian Mefford, CEO of Connected Texas’ parent organization, Connected Nation. “As more investments are made into Texas’ broadband capacity, rural Texans, in particular, will feel the impact with improved access to services like telemedicine, higher education opportunities, and easy access to government services that will greatly enrich their quality of life.”

In January 2010, Connected Texas was awarded $2.5 million to create the state’s first broadband availability map and update revisions with the help of public and broadband provider feedback validations. Connected Texas released the map’s first draft iteration in June 2010 at www.connectedtx.org. The additional SBDD funds will now enable Connected Texas to maintain broadband validation work and updates to the map for a total of five years. The map will enable state leaders, community decision makers, and the general public to better track the progress of broadband expansion over time while prioritizing future projects.

More importantly, the Connected Texas project will help provide data needed to strategically deploy broadband in a sustainable, market-based approach and in a manner that encourages private investment so that Texas can stay competitive in the digital economy. This project will leverage the work of the established Texas Broadband Task Force, seek input from experts from governmental agencies, nonprofits and trade associations, and assess current programs and laws/regulations that can be used to overcome impediments to broadband growth and adoption.

Connected Texas is an independent nonprofit organization that works in public and private partnerships to make technology expansion possible and increase economic growth across the state. Connected Texas works to make technology easily available in order to improve the state’s business environment, help community and economic development, improve healthcare, offer better education opportunities, and create more efficient and transparent government.

For more information about Connected Texas, please visit www.connectedtx.org.

To access a summary of the grant project, please visit http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/grantee/connected-nation-texas.

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Commissioner Staples Releases Statewide Map to Identify Broadband Needs Across Texas

From the Texas Department of Agriculture:

Map, survey findings identify areas of the state that remain unconnected

AUSTIN — More than 96 percent of Texas households have access to home broadband service; however, a quarter of a million households in the Lone Star State — more than all of the households in Vermont — lack access to this critical service. In an effort to close the digital divide, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples today announced the launch of the Texas broadband map, which illustrates the state's broadband landscape; pinpoints unserved areas; identifies types of service; and allows broadband service providers to target future investment.

"High-speed Internet is directly related to business development and is a critical lifeline to vital services like telemedicine and education," Commissioner Staples said. "Every Texan should have the opportunity to drive in the fast lane on the information superhighway; however, some Texans are stuck on a dirt road. This new statewide broadband map will help us bridge the digital divide for rural communities and households that remain unserved by broadband service."

The state was mapped by Connected Texas, a non-profit organization designated by the Texas Department of Agriculture to measure and map the availability and use of broadband in Texas.

The map includes data from 123 state providers and indicates 3.5 percent of Texas households, or approximately 257,000 residences, do not have access to home broadband service. Most of the unserved areas are in rural regions of the state, and a lack of broadband access is hindering their opportunities for business development and access to telemedicine, higher education and e-government.

"The complete picture of the state's broadband coverage will help us focus our efforts on those libraries where better connectivity is needed," said Director Peggy Rudd of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. "Public libraries often face the challenge of not knowing what broadband options are available in their areas, and the new map will become a valuable informational tool for them as well."

"This map will be a valuable tool to help Texans identify providers offering high-speed Internet access to homes and businesses throughout the state," said Commissioner Donna L. Nelson of the Public Utility Commission (PUC).

The map is a tool for strategically targeting broadband infrastructure build-out and subscribership. The public is encouraged to review the map at www.connectedtx.org and provide input to help validate the data. The broadband inventory map will be updated again in the fall after consumer and provider data are collected.

The Texas broadband map includes BroadbandStat Technology, which allows a street-level view of current high-speed Internet availability. The map, which will be continually enhanced and upgraded, is searchable by address, allowing users to see the type of technology used to provide service in their areas, as well as the providers servicing their areas. The public can also use the map to compare prices through direct links to service providers.

Gov. Rick Perry designated TDA, in consultation with the PUC and the Texas Public Safety Commission, to lead the state’s broadband service expansion initiatives and represent the interests of Texas to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

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Connected Nation Receives ARRA Grant for Connected Texas Initiative

Connected Texas Will Give Residents Powerful Hands-on Mapping Tool

Washington, DC –Texas is getting approximately $3 million in federal funds to improve high-speed Internet access across the state. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) made the announcement yesterday.

The grant money will fund a project called Connected Texas (http://www.connectedtx.org/) which is a partnership between the Texas Department of Agriculture and the national non-profit, Connected Nation. Work will begin immediately on the five-year initiative, by first creating a detailed map of current broadband availability across the Lone Star State. The map will be created with new, cutting-edge technology that will give Texans a powerful, hands-on tool for finding real-time information on high-speed Internet availability. BroadbandStat was developed by Connected Nation in conjunction with ESRI, the world market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software. BroadbandStat allows viewers to zoom in all the way down to street level for specific information on what services are available in a specific area. The information gathered by Connected Texas will also be included in the new, national broadband map mandated by the federal government, which is scheduled to be available beginning February 2011.

“We are pleased to be working with the Texas Department of Agriculture to help create a comprehensive broadband map in the state of Texas,” said Brian R. Mefford, Connected Nation’s chief executive officer. ”Broadband is a modern lifeline to quality jobs, information and vital services like interactive telemedicine and education. Yet, thousands of Texas residents still have no access to affordable, high-speed Internet. Connected Texas is going to lay the foundation for broadband expansion across Texas.”

The grant is comprised of $2.5 million for two years of researching current broadband in Texas and creating a map. Another $500,000 is allotted for future broadband planning activities over a five-year period, bringing the total grant award to approximately $3 million. The award comes through NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program and is a matching grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Connected Texas also gives residents a powerful, interactive tool for improving their access to high speed Internet. The state’s Web site (http://www.connectedtx.org/) was launched in September 2009 and allows people to test their current Internet speed, provide feedback on service in their area and share their personal stories of how high speed Internet has impacted their lives.

This latest award brings the number of Connected Nation’s partner projects to a total of thirteen: 12 states and one U.S. territory on the national broadband mapping effort. These efforts comprise approximately 42 percent of the country’s landmass and encompass approximately 39.5 million households.

More than $7 billion in stimulus funds have been designated to help expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the United States. These funds are available through NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the Rural Utilities Service’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP). NTIA has received applications for the grant program from all 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia. The agency is currently reviewing the remaining five applications. The remaining awards are expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

As the organization that produced the nation’s first granular statewide broadband availability map in 2005, Connected Nation is a prominent voice for the nation’s need for better broadband data. Connected Nation has completed statewide broadband availability maps for eight states, all prior to the current stimulus fund availability. In addition to these mapping projects, Connected Nation has worked with local communities to encourage broadband adoption and use. These programs, including computer donation, technology planning and economic development, are an essential step in closing the digital divide in the United States.

Connected Nation has worked closely with national leaders and provided numerous filings in support of a process for broadband data collection at the national level. To learn more about the programs that are helping more families and communities connect through broadband, visit http://www.connectednation.org/.

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Related Links:

Press Release: Texas Receives $3 Million for Broadband Mapping and Planning

Press Release: Connected Texas Launches Web site to Solicit Citizen Feedback About Broadband
ESRI: About BroadbandStat

Blog: Connected Tennessee Debuts Latest Innovation in Broadband Mapping

Press Release: Connected Nation State-level Digital Inclusion Work Highlighted at FCC Public Hearing

News Article: Texas Partners with Connected Nation to Map Broadband Availability and Prepare for Federal Stimulus Funding (Texas Magazine, 07/31/09)

Press Release: Texas Partners with Connected Nation to Map Broadband Availability and Prepare for Federal Stimulus Funding

Press Release: Ten More Connected Nation Partner Projects Receive Recovery Act Funding For Broadband Mapping and Planning Initiatives

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Connected Texas Launches Web site to Solicit Citizen Feedback About Broadband

AUSTIN– Today, the Texas Department of Agriculture and Connected Nation launched a Web site for Texas’ comprehensive broadband mapping initiative. The site is designed to collect information from Texans to help identify current broadband availability across the state and highlight areas that are currently unserved by a broadband provider. The Web site, www.connectedtx.org, allows for consumer feedback and broadband validation. Press Release