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The National Broadband Map Reveals How Slow Your Internet Is

by Thomas Houston on February 17, 2011 at 03:11 PM

national broadband map
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration just unveiled the National Broadband Map, a $200 million tool under development for the past five years that lets you explore, compare and analyze broadband availability and connection speeds across the country. The minimalist homepage offers a Google-esque search for targeting a state, ZIP code and street, as well as a map tool for broadband geeks; you can see mobile networks, FTTH, Docsis 3.0, DSL, cable connections and more.

Unfortunately, the site appears to be buckling under the strain of launch, with elements collapsing and searches timing out. The National Broadband Map is built on top of open-source tools like WordPress and OpenGeo, and developers will have full access to the Map's APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), covering everything from census to broadband provider data. There's a ton of information here. You can dig into states, counties and congressional districts to find broadband speed tests, availability and accessibility at public institutions, and then compare all of it to connected demographic data.

With a new survey revealing that only 68-percent of U.S. households have broadband access, and that 5- to 10-percent lack access to any Internet connection, the mapping project and regular data updates (every six months) should help to highlight the under-served and under-connected parts of the country. NTIA assistant secretary Larry Strickling said, "We are pleased to see the increase in broadband adoption last year, particularly in light of the difficult economic environment, but a digital divide remains."

Tags: Broadband, broadband+map, broadbandmap, connectivity, internet, NationalBroadbandMap, Nationalbroadbandplan, NationalTelecommunicationsAndInformationAdministration, ntia, top, web

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