In an attempt to unite all state residents in a digital union, Utah has released its digital equity plan and five year plan. As Broadband Breakfast reports, Louisiana and Maine were the first to leap on to the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, making Utah third. Utah was awarded a $5.6 million planning grant for its broadband efforts. Each state has chosen a different approach to connectivity, with Utah’s plan prioritizing middle mile projects. The statewide scope of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will serve as a linking element.
There are eight tribal organizations within Utah’s borders. The Utah Broadband Center has indicated that it will provide technical assistance for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. Funds awarded directly to the tribal organizations will be used to help implement broadband delivery on native lands that will coordinate with the progress being made throughout the rest of the state.
UDOT already has a head start on expanding middle mile opportunities with BEAD funds. Utah’s highways have been adapted to include a fiber option sharing system that can quickly relay traffic and weather information along its pathways. Numerous providers participate in this sharing network. Lynne Yocum, Fiber Manager at UDOT, said that Utah is uniquely positioned to further expand middle mile digital growth. She praised the partnership between UDOT and telecommunications providers calling it the “Utah way” of working together to deliver better broadband services.
The state has also proposed a digital equity plan that will work with communities to provide ongoing educational opportunities. Digital equity includes both maintaining the components that allow people to connect to the broadband network, and training to continually introduce new ways of capitalizing on online opportunities. Utah appears to be modeling this aspect of its BEAD commitment on the example set by Louisiana, which focuses on community centers, libraries, and digital hubs that host events and post information about available programs and courses, according to Broadband Breakfast.
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