12.07.09
Lt. Governor Findley, Kansas Secretary of Commerce Thornton host Connect Kansas rural broadband initiative news conference
TOPEKA ─ Lt. Governor Troy Findley and Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton hosted a news conference today to unveil Kansas’ $2 million federal grant for th
e Connect Kansas rural broadband initiative.
Lt. Governor Findley and Commerce Secretary Thornton provided details of the grant, which will fund broadband mapping and planning through the Connect Kansas initiative. The grant was announced Nov. 30 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Informatio n Administration.
The award will help Kansas collect data and develop a detailed map of the state’s existing broadband infrastructure. The map will be a crucial tool for businesses, consumers and policymakers involved in the Connect Kansas initiative to increase high-speed Internet access in rural Kansas.
“This is an exciting day for the state, especially for rural Kansas communities that don’t yet have access to high-speed Internet,” Lt. Governor Findley said. “This grant enables us to advance the Connect Kansas initiative and increase the availability of broadband Internet in rural communities. For rural Kansans, this means economic growth through e-commerce, enhanced services through e-government and improvements to overall quality of life.”
Connect Kansas is a Kansas Department of Commerce initiative to increase high-speed Internet access in the state’s underserved rural areas. The initiative has two components: 1) mapping Kansas’ broadband capacity, as well as related planning; and 2) providing federal grants and loans to organizations involved in expanding broadband to rural areas. Today’s announcement concerns only the mapping and planning component.
Kansas matched the grant with $185,000 from the Information Network of Kansas and $15,000 from Kansas Farm Bureau. The state has contracted with Connected Nation, a nationally recognized non-profit specializing in broadband issues and technology, to help with mapping and planning.
Kansas is one of 21 states since October to receive Recovery Act funding through the NTIA for mapping initiatives. NTIA expects to continue announcing awards on a rolling basis throughout the fall. Data from the states’ individual maps will ultimately be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map.
Kansas businesses, organizations, Internet service providers and citizens are asked to contribute to the mapping process by visiting www.connectkansas.org and providing information about broadband access in their areas.
“We are pleased to be working with the Department of Commerce and the Governor’s Office to help create a comprehensive broadband map in the state of Kansas,” said Brian R. Mefford, Connected Nation’s chief executive officer.
“We applaud NTIA for working diligently to create a national broadband map and are honored to have been selected to help Kansas in its efforts to close the digital divide in the state.”
For details, visit www.KansasCommerce.com/ConnectKansas or contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.
Today’s Speakers:
Joe Monaco
Public Information Officer, Kansas Department of Commerce
Troy Findley
Lt. Governor, State of Kansas
Bill Thornton
Secretary, Kansas Department of Commerce
Carole Jordan,
Director of Rural Development Division, Kansas Department of Commerce
Brian Mefford
CEO, Connected Nation
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