Kelleigh Cole of the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development discussed Utah's broadband initiatives. In 2010, Utah received a federal grant to map broadband availability and increase adoption. Since then, 80% of Utahns subscribe to home Internet, 52 providers are on the Utah broadband map, and 108 cities increased speeds over 1 gigabit. Regional planning efforts identified issues and priorities. A 2013 summit educated over 250 people on improving access and technology usage. A 2014 survey found most non-adopters access the Internet elsewhere and half would subscribe with digital training. Mobile drive tests mapped 4G LTE coverage. The Utah broadband plan focuses on deployment, infrastructure, advocacy, speeds, funding, education, healthcare, and rural connectivity.

1. Tri-State Telecommunications Conference
Kelleigh Cole
Utah Broadband Project Manager
Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development

2. Utah Broadband Project
2010, Utah received a five-year
grant through the National
Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA)
Develop a statewide map of
available broadband services
Develop a plan to increase
broadband adoption and
deployment in the state

3. Broadband In Utah
80% of Utahns subscribe to the
Internet at home
52 Internet Service Providers
displayed on the Utah
Broadband Map
108 Cites that increased
broadband speeds to over 1Gig
from 2010 to 2013

4. Utah’s Changing Broadband Landscape

5. Regional Planning Effort
Identified key regional broadband
issues
Conducted a regional needs
assessment
Identified recommendations and
priorities for the region
Developed a regional plan to increase
collaboration on a local level between
public and private stakeholders

6. 2013 Broadband Tech Summit
Sessions focused on helping community planners,
economic developers, government officials, business
leaders, educators and other stakeholders learn strategies
to improve broadband and access and technology usage
Over 250 in attendance
Speakers from U.S. Ignite, Overstock.com, University of
Utah and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development

7. 2014 Demand Survey
Called over 27,000 people to get 500 survey participants
Most nonadopters accessed the Internet either at work or
school
Majority on nonadopters said they were not interested in
getting the Internet and lacked computer skills
Over half of the participants said they would be more
likely to subscribe to the Internet if they had digital
literacy training

8. Utah’s 2013 Mobile Drive Test
Drove 6,000 miles of Utah
roads
Map displays 4G LTE coverage

9. Utah Broadband Plan
Convene Partners to Increase Deployment
Market Utah’s Cutting-Edge Infrastructure
Advocate for Utah on the National Stage
Help Communities Increase Speeds
Identify Funding and Partnership Models
Give Utah Students the Tools to Succeed
Connect Healthcare and First Responders
Link Rural Utah to a Global Marketplace

10. Thank you
Kelleigh Cole
kcole@utah.gov
801-538-8831