ConnectKentucky Unveils Maps to Identify Gaps in Broadband Service

Moving forward with the governor's statewide broadband initiative, the ConnectKentucky Steering Committee and Gov. Ernie Fletcher recently unveiled Phase I Maps to illustrate service gaps and to serve as an economic development resource for communities.

The phase is intended to produce maps using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to provide a comprehensive statewide inventory of existing broadband service and infrastructure. The committee will use the GIS maps and other demand and supply-side incentives toward full broadband deployment by 2007 under the governor's Prescription for Innovation initiative (see the Oct. 25 issue of the Digest). A second phase of the mapping project will identify expansion plans for 2005.

To help communities assess their current rates of technology adoption and usage within nine different sectors, ConnectKentucky also developed a community benchmarking tool. The tool will act as a guide to provide a benchmark for each community's current readiness to participate in the economic, social, governmental, and personal changes that high-speed communications entail, the Steering Committee said. Currently, more than 30 counties and communities use the tool.

More information is available at http://www.connectkentucky.com.