The US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has released an interactive digital map that overlays areas of poverty with internet usage patterns and access to computers and related equipment. The result is public map that lets users explore different datasets about where people’s internet speeds fall below the FCC benchmark of 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. The map aggregates the data at the county and census block level, and uses public and private sources, such as from the US Census Bureau, the FCC, M-Lab, Ookla and Microsoft.
US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said the map paints a “sobering view” of the challenges facing certain people in the country. The NTIA noted that the map also shows usage patterns in tribal communities. It will be used in general to help policymakers make more informed decisions on expanding broadband access.
The NTIA also provides to state governments and federal partners a geographic information system (GIS) platform called the National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) that provides more complex tools for analysing broadband access, such as the ability to upload GIS files to compare proposed projects. Earlier this month, NTIA announced that Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, and South Dakota have joined the NBAM, bringing the total number of participating states to 36.
