NTIA Awards More Broadband Mapping Grants

Montana, New Hampshire, Utah and U.S. Virgin Islands receieve funds

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/31/2009 3:47:45 PM

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration has awarded more broadband mapping grants, bringing the total to 41 grants totaling about $78 million.

The newest states (and one territory) to get money are Montana, New Hampshire, Utah, and the U.S. Virgin Islands under the state mapping program, which is funded by $350 million in broadband stimulus funds, though a source says NTIA expects to need only about a third of that amount to build its interactive map showing nationwide availability, including speed and location.

NTIA has to finish the project by February 2011.

Among those receiving grants was Connected Nation, which got $2.2 million for Iowa mapping and data collection; the University of New Hampshire, and the Montana Department of Commerce.