Bringing America Up to Speed: States' Role in Expanding Broadband

A new report from the Pew Center on the States finds that states increasingly see broadband as a powerful vehicle for driving long-term economic growth and delivering services more efficiently and effectively. A growing number of states are stepping up their efforts to expand high-quality, high-speed broadband for their residents. This report examines the national push to ensure broadband access for all Americans. Driven by tight budgets, states are seeking to use this technology to deliver and improve education, public safety, health care, government services and energy. Just about every policy area that states manage could be affected by expanding broadband availability, adoption and quality.

The report also examines the challenging steps states must take to improve broadband access, including:

• Cost -- coverage for many underserved communities remains economically unfeasible
• Mapping current access -- who has it and at what speed
• Physical infrastructure -- negotiating federal, state and county jurisdictional issues
• Capacity -- only an estimated 15 states have agencies or authorities that focus on broadband expansion