State Broadband Initiative

Launched in 2009, NTIA’s State Broadband Initiative (SBI) implements the joint purposes of the Recovery Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which envisioned a comprehensive program, led by state entities or non-profit organizations working at their direction, to facilitate the integration of broadband and information technology into state and local economies. Economic development, energy efficiency, and advances in education and health care rely not only on broadband infrastructure, but also on the knowledge and tools to leverage that infrastructure.

Since the program’s inception, NTIA has awarded a total of $293 million to 56 grantees, one each from the 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia, or their designees. Grantees will use this funding to support the efficient and creative use of broadband technology to better compete in the digital economy. These state-created efforts vary depending on local needs but include programs to assist small businesses and community institutions in using technology more effectively, research to investigate barriers to broadband adoption, innovative applications that increase access to government services and information, and state and local task forces to expand broadband access and adoption.

Since accurate data is critical for broadband planning, another purpose of the SBI program is to assist states in gathering data twice a year on the availability, speed, and location of broadband services, as well as the broadband services that community institutions, such as schools, libraries and hospitals, use. This data is used by NTIA to update the National Broadband Map, the first public, searchable nationwide map of broadband availability launched February 17, 2011.

Summaries of each grant award are provided below, and visitors are also encouraged to visit the state broadband program and data websites. A list of these websites can be found here.

State Alabama
Total Award:
$4,874,142
State Alaska
Total Award:
$6,378,198
Total Award:
$1,900,496
State Arkansas
Recipient: Connect Arkansas
Total Award:
$6,175,366
State California
Total Award:
$7,981,304
State Colorado
Total Award:
$5,382,082
State Delaware
Total Award:
$3,080,450
Total Award:
$4,041,816
State Florida
Total Award:
$8,877,028
State Georgia
Total Award:
$5,229,940
State Guam
Total Award:
$1,558,950
State Hawaii
Total Award:
$4,349,940
State Illinois
Total Award:
$6,554,641
State Indiana
Total Award:
$3,294,766
State Iowa
Total Award:
$5,769,942
State Kentucky
Total Award:
$5,302,717
State Louisiana
Total Award:
$6,649,679
State Maine
Total Award:
$4,978,492
State Maryland
Total Award:
$4,755,768
Total Award:
$6,162,554

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