Broadband Mapping Comes to Nashua Region

The Nashua Regional Planning Commission is part of a statewide effort for Broadband Mapping that just received a $1.7 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NRPC is part of a team headed by UNH Complex Systems that includes all of the Regional Planning Commissions in the state.

$1.2 million dollars of the grant will be allocated over the next two years to map broadband availability across the state, identify gaps in broadband accessibility, and pinpoint underserved areas. NRPC will begin immediately on a survey and mapping of regional anchor institutions including city and town halls, emergency service facilities, hospitals, medical centers, schools, and libraries. The information collected will be used to create a publicly available state broadband map and will be included in a national broadband map. The national broadband map will display the geographic areas where broadband service is available, the technology used to provide the service, the speed of the service, and broadband service availability at important community anchor locations. The national map will also be searchable by address and will show the broadband providers offering service in the corresponding census block or street segment. $500,000 will be available statewide over 5 years for planning and outreach on broadband availability.

The National Broadband Mapping effort is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funding. Results of the mapping effort will be used to inform decisions on broadband infrastructure grants.