Connected Nation to Begin Mapping Projects in Nevada, Texas

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2009 – The states of Nevada and Texas have selected Connected Nation for their broadband mapping needs.

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons recently created the Nevada Broadband Task Force, which is charged with identifying and removing barriers to broadband access, along with identifying broadband opportunities in unserved and underserved regions of the state.

In conjunction with the partnership, Connected Nation has released a statewide map depicting rural and remote areas in Nevada that will be eligible for infrastructure grant funding from the federal government.

Separately, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced Monday an agreement between the Texas Department of Agriculture and Connected Nation to create the broadband initiative Connected Texas.

The map “will illustrate broadband service availability at the street level, based on information from all types of providers across Texas” and “illustrate the service gaps that remain in rural and other remote locations,” according to Connected Nation.

The map will be developed under the leadership of Texas’s Agriculture Department and will be designed to determine where broadband service is available and unavailable to Texas households statewide.

According to a recent study by Connected Nation on the impact of public-private broadband expansion programs funded through the Broadband Data Improvement Act and the economic stimulus plan, a grassroots-driven program for increased broadband access and use in Texas could result in a total economic impact of $9.4 billion through the creation of more than 173,000 jobs. It also believes there will be cost savings in areas such as health care and the environment and through activities such as telecommuting.