Pelosi Applauds Recovery Act Grant to California and Three Other States for Broadband Mapping;

Pelosi Applauds Recovery Act Grant to California and Three Other States for Broadband Mapping

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Pelosi applauded today's announcement that California is among the first four states to receive state broadband mapping grants made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

â€Å"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was designed to be both stimulative and transformational to our economy. Central to our efforts to ensure prosperity for all Americans is deploying broadband coast to coast.

â€Å"To choose among the wisest investments in expanding broadband access to all Americans, we must have precise and accurate data on national broadband deployment, and in this regard, California will again be in the lead. By developing a statewide map, we will know best where to invest our resources. I commend the CPUC and other awardees for taking the lead on this vital national priority and helping to ensure America's economic strength for generations to come.â€

* * *

Background:

Broadband mapping is the process of determining and mapping where broadband service is available, the technologies used to provide broadband service, the spectrum used for the provision of wireless broadband service and the speeds at which broadband service is available. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will receive more than $1.8 million for broadband mapping activities over the next two years as well as an additional $500,000 for broadband planning purposes. The CPUC will partner with California State University, Chico, to collect and verify important broadband mapping data sought by the National Telecommunications & Information Administration. That data will ultimately lead to a comprehensive, interactive and publically available national broadband map by February 17, 2011.