An executive order was issued by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to create a Broadband Advisory Board, reports GovTech.com. The newly formed Board is charged with improving interagency cooperation to help bring high-speed iInternet to all Colorado residents.
A recently released report from the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) prompted the governor to turn his attention to broadband outreach. Despite the state’s Colorado Broadband Data and Development Program (CBDDP), the report concluded that inaccurate data makes it difficult to pinpoint specific locations that lack internet service. The OIT would like Colorado to grant it “statutory authority to require granular data from all ISPs operating in Colorado and providing OIT with the tools to ensure compliance with the [broadband] requirements.”
The questionable data also compelled the OIT to recommend better mapping efforts. Determining which areas may be underserved could make a huge difference in available federal funding. Colorado is determined to make sure it develops a strategy to bring connectivity to its residents in a way that is efficient, targeted, and cost effective. The report also suggested that the current FCC definition of broadband (25 Mbps download speed/3 Mbps upload speed) is outmoded and should be revised.
“The board will provide the cohesive voice that is more important than ever,” the OIT report states. “The board will also drive engagement and relationships with the private sector. Through coordination and collaboration, the board can bring together communities, private sector investors, and identify funding sources to cover project costs, increasing the feasibility of projects in areas that traditionally do not provide a high enough ROI for investors.”
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