The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board met on May at the State Capitol.
Jackie Reader and Sarah Lawrence from the ITS Data and Spatial Services (DASS) Team presented their “BEAD Application Project Areas” Map and Dashboard to the Board.
The online application, which shows project areas that ISPs and other eligible entities can submit grant applications for under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. It is the result of thoughtful spatial considerations (e.g. “it is hard to lay fiber across a train track or a river”), combined with several rounds of feedback from stakeholders to develop project areas that are attractive in terms of technology types, network design and accessibility.
ITS has supported the Idaho Office of Broadband (IOB) within the Department of Commerce through multiple grant projects for the past 2.5 years. Bringing together technical GIS skills and the deep broadband knowledge and experience at IOB has allowed Idaho to nimbly leverage different skills of this combined team.
Under the Broadband Strategic Plan, the objective is to get all Idahoans connected to the internet. Mapping and data analysis are huge components of any broadband program to be efficient and effective with taxpayer dollars.
To stay informed and updated, be sure to monitor and review Link Up Idaho.
Jake Reynolds, Idaho Commerce Administrator“It’s clear to the broadband stakeholders, Board and other partners that Jackie, Sarah and the ITS Team bring a high-level of professionalism and customer service to the State’s broadband programs. Over the last couple years, their expertise and hard work have directly contributed to significant financial savings to the State and respective broadband programs.”
Ramón Hobdey-Sánchez, Director of the Idaho Office of Broadband“The partnership between the IOB and ITS is the backbone of the BEAD Program. The GIS contributions from Sarah and Jackie have greatly enhanced the project’s credibility.”
