The Maryland Broadband Mapping Initiative is funded by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) grant administered through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Through various activities, the ultimate goal of ARRA broadband projects is to increase broadband access and adoption throughout the Nation. Governor Martin O’Malley chose the Maryland Broadband Cooperative, Inc. (MDBC) to lead Maryland’s data collection, mapping, and planning initiative, which is part of the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. A working partnership comprising MDBC, Salisbury University, Towson University, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, and Maryland’s State Geographic Information Officer, has teamed to develop and deliver a comprehensive statewide broadband inventory and a publicly available interactive map. The Maryland Broadband Map enables the state’s citizens to search and discover broadband provider and service technology availability by address. This presentation will demonstrate The Maryland Broadband Map web application, provide a project update, and discuss future activities.

1. The Maryland Broadband Map –
Coverage, Connection & Choice for Maryland’s Citizens
David Sides & Tom Earp
Center for GIS at Towson University

2. Maryland Broadband Mapping Initiative
• Funded Under and Administered by:
– American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA)
– National Telecommunications Information Agency (NTIA)
• Collect Accurate State-Level Data
– Improved Deployment/Adoption Data to Support
Extension of Broadband Availability
• Develop State and National Broadband Maps
– “comprehensive, interactive and searchable”

3. The Need to Map Broadband Availability
Source: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
http://www.gfmag.com/tools/global-database/ne-data/10444-global-broadband-penetration-rates.html#axzz1HGJbh4Sw

4. Governor O’Malley Endorses MD Team:
– Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MDBC)
– Salisbury University (ESRGC & BEACON)
– Towson University (CGIS & RESI)
– State GIO/DoIT
– MD Department of Business & Economic
Development (DBED)

5. MBBMI Project Goals
• Collect, Verify and Map Broadband Coverage Areas
– Defined as:
• > 768 kbps Downstream, > 200 kbps Upstream
• Ability to Provide w/in 7 – 10 Working Days
• Provide Consumers Reliable Information
– Areas Served
– Technologies Available
– Speeds
– Wireless Service Areas
– Availability of Service at Community Anchor Institutions
• Deliver Data via Searchable, Interactive map

6. Requesting Provider Data
• Encourage Provider Participation
– Communicate Advantages of Participating
– Establish NDA’s (24 signed)
– Offer Data Development Assistance
– 101 Providers Contacted
– 40 Participating to Date

7. Provider Data Request:
• Broadband Service Areas
– Address Lists
– Census Blocks
– Coverage Maps
• Upload/Download Speeds
– Maximum Advertised Upload Speed
– Maximum Advertised Download Speed
– Typical Upload Speed
– Typical Download Speed

8. Provider Data Request:
• Technologies of Transmission
– One or more of the following:
• Asymmetric xDSL
• Symmetric xDSL
• Other Copper Wireline
• Cable Modem – Other
• Optical Carrier/Fiber to the End User
• Electric Power Line
• Terrestrial Fixed Wireless
• Terrestrial Mobile Wireless
• Satellite

9. Community Anchor Institutions
• Use Broadband to Deliver Essential Services
– Remote Medical Care
– Education/Distance Learning
– Job Training
– E-Government
• Eventually Require Speeds > 100mbps
• Measure Added Value of Extending Service
• Plan and Prepare for the Future

10. Community Anchor Institutions
• NTIA Defines Community Anchors as:
– K – 12 Schools
– Libraries
– Medical/Healthcare
– Public Safety
– Universities, Colleges, other post-secondary
– Other Community Support – Government
– Other Community Support – Non-Government

11. Community Anchor Data Collection
• Results to Date: 23,000+ Entities
– 15 of 23 Counties & 10 State Agencies
– Close to 100% of Public Schools and Libraries
– Nearly 20,000 Medical Service Providers

12. Provider Data Verification
• Provider Service Area Verification
– ID Census Blocks w/ no Structures or
Population
– ID Census Blocks Outside of Cable
Franchise or DSL Boundaries
• Verify Service Availability
– Speed Tests (Crowd-Sourcing)
• MBBMI Speed Test (10,000+ to Date)
• FCC Speed Tests (8,800+ to Date)

13. Wireless Data Verification
• Statewide 4 km2 Grid (1472 locations)

14. Wireless Service Field Verification
•Tested 4 Android Phones (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile)
•QoS Solutions Speed Test (FCC as back up)
• Created Daily Routes with Esri’s ArcLogistics

15. Coverage Stats: Competition
Number % of Maryland % of Maryland (by
of BBSPs (by area) 2000 population)
0 3.38% 0.15%
1 6.84% 0.78%
2 11.73% 1.79%
3 16.95% 4.10%
4 17.31% 4.50%
5 13.13% 6.79%
6+ 30.65% 81.87%

16. Coverage Stats: Technology Availability
Technology of Transmission % of Maryland % of Maryland (by
(by area) 2000 population)
Wireless 89.14% 98.77%
Digital subscriber line 74.47% 96.47%
Cable modem 61.19% 91.75%
Fiber to the user 14.73% 50.56%

17. Coverage Stats: Service Type
Type of Service % of Maryland % of Maryland (by
(by area) 2000 population)
No Service 3.38% 0.15%
Wireline, no wireless 7.47% 1.21%
Wireless, no wireline 13.41% 1.07%
Both wireline and wireless 75.73% 97.55%

18. Demo…
www.mdbroadbandmap.org

19. Phase II Initiatives (Years 2-5)
1) Data Updates
2) Address-level data
3) Application Enhancements
4) “Broadband Capacity Building”

20. Phase II: Data Updates
• Extended to include Broadband Resellers
• Data Updates Continued every 6 Months
• Offer of Technical Support to Providers
• Provider Data Feedback Loop
– Resolve Data Issues
– Provide Map & request Accuracy Confirmation
• Automation of Updates
• Continued Data Verification

21. Phase II: Application Enhancements
• Wi-Fi Hotspots
– Leverage Existing Resources
– Crowd Sourcing
• Text-Based/Mobile Provider Search
• Multiple Address Input
• Identify Business-only Providers
• Dynamic Content (related efforts & news)

22. Phase II: Broadband Capacity Building
• Project Manager to Oversee:
– Strategic Plan for MD Broadband Growth & Adoption
• Gap Analysis of Availability & Adoption
• Establish Benchmarks
• Solicit Governor’s Approval of Plan
• Conduct Research & Outreach
– Community Anchor Long-Term Needs
• Measure Progress
• Liaison for BTOP, Mapping and other Related Activities

23. Questions?
www.mdbroadbandmap.org
broadband.maryland.gov