Colorado bill will improve broadband mapping
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides funds for states to map broadband infrastructure and create public-private partnerships to create demand for high-speed Internet. A number of states have recently passed legislation to position themselves for stimulus grant funds - Colorado is the latest example.
The Colorado legislation mandates a comprehensive inventory and map of the state's broadband service areas.
The bill's sponsor, Senator Gail Schwartz, described her reasoning for sponsoring the bill:
"Schools, hospitals, and businesses don't move to places where there is no broadband access. It is important for us to focus our economic development statewide: in rural areas in addition to our cities. These federal recovery dollars will bring essential support to Colorado and my broadband inventory bill helps lay the groundwork for the federal package."
Colorado is just the latest state to undertake a broadband mapping project. Other states like Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Minnesota, California and West Virginia preceded Colorado in mapping efforts.
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