News Release

Feb. 23, 2011
For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:

Oklahoma Launches New Interactive Broadband Coverage Map

Oklahoma’s Broadband Coverage Identified

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma took a major step toward improving its information highway today with the launch of interactive map on a state website pinpointing areas of the state that have broadband internet service.

The $4.9 million Oklahoma Broadband Mapping Project is part of the Oklahoma Broadband Initiative, under the direction of the Office of State Finance (OSF).

"These maps not only demonstrate where we are with broadband access today, they also offer guidance toward a future where the benefits of broadband are widely available across Oklahoma," said Alex Pettit, Oklahoma’s chief information officer.

State officials envision the project propelling expansion of broadband access across the state, creating jobs, enhanced educational opportunities and community development. Oklahoma officials will be working with both private and public stakeholders to exchange ideas on achieving that goal.

The mapping project was made possible through a $3.8 million National Telecommunications Information Administration grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Under the grant award, the state was required to provide an in-kind match of $1.1 million.

The new interactive map incorporates multiple data layers that can be toggled on/off including:

• Broadband coverage
• Cable Availability
• DSL Availability
• Wireless Availability
• Number of Wireline Providers
• Wireline Download Speeds
• Wireless Download Speeds
• Community Anchor Institution Locations
• Speed Test Results
• Legislative Districts

The map can be found at http://broadbandmapping.ok.gov/OKmap.html (link opens in a new window).

The Oklahoma Broadband Mapping Project is a partnership between several state agencies, including the OSF, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, OneNet, Oklahoma Conservation Commission and the University of Oklahoma.

The in-kind match the state provided to obtain the federal grant is comprised of Oklahoma map data compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s Office of Geographic Information, as well as salary and benefit costs of state employees working on the project. The Sanborn Map Company used state data to build the Oklahoma Broadband Map.

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Other Resources (links open in a new window)

• Broadband Initiative website
• Broadband Mapping Initiative website