The LinkIDAHO Initiative

Welcome to the LinkIDAHO website. Here you’ll find important news and resources related to our mapping and planning efforts.

Feel free to visit our site often for the latest in broadband-related news and resources. The following are a few of the most recent updates to our site:

• EdLab Group and the LinkIDAHO project team are seeking a Technical Assistance partner. Deadline for response to Request for Proposals (RFP) has been extended to Feb. 8, 2012.
• Read current news from across the state on how broadband is impacting Idaho, including a recent article published by the Magic Valley Times-News entitled "Many Idahoans Still Without Broadband Access."
• According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, on any given day, 53% of young adults ages 18-29 go online for no particular reason except to have fun or to pass the time.
• The winter 2011 edition of "the Link" (LinkIDAHO's digital newsletter) contains summaries of the six regional broadband investment plans, information on new features of the state and national broadband maps and how to access a new LinkIDAHO resource known as "Broadband 201."
• After months of meeting, research and planning, the LinkIDAHO regional planning teams have determined top broadband priorities and developed regional broadband investment plans.

Region 1 (Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties)

Region 2 (Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce Counties)

Region 3 (Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington Counties)

Region 4 (Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls Counties)

Region 5 (Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power Counties)

Region 6 (Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton Counties)

Funding for LinkIDAHO

Funding for LinkIDAHO

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 made funding possible for broadband projects, including mapping and planning, infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable adoption programs. States' broadband mapping and planning projects are made possible through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) grant program.

In Nov. 2009, Idaho received an approximately $1.8 million grant to fund the State's SBDD project years 1-2. An additional $2.6 million grant was awarded in Sept. 2010 to fund project years 3-5.

This project will serve as a catalyst for increased access to and use of broadband to better serve our citizens. With ubiquitous broadband, we can realize improved economic development, access to education and health care, enhanced public safety, improved government efficiencies, increased tourism, greater access to telework opportunities and more.

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Why LinkIDAHO?

Through initial research, we understand there are many reasons Idahoans do not use broadband. Perhaps the most commonly cited barrier is access: broadband must be available in order to adopt it. Where broadband is available, barriers to adopting it include high subscription costs, lack of broadband-ready devices, low awareness of broadband uses and concerns about privacy and security on the Internet. Through community collaboration and regional planning, this project will address these issues and many more.

In order to address expansion of this technology, we must first have a clear picture of where broadband currently exists in the state, and thus where our gaps in coverage are. Following a thorough assessment and inventory of key Idaho assets, we have developed an online, interactive tool revealing our broadband footprint. A beta version of this tool, available on this site in August 2010, will display detailed maps of broadband coverage in both rural and urban areas throughout the state. Ultimately, these maps will provide consumers with links to individual broadband providers in their area.

While consumers may use this content to identify and order broadband services, it is equally important for policymakers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Policymakers can identify and address barriers to expansion. ISPs can identify gaps in coverage and an estimated cost to fill them.

To this point, we have been unable to accurately articulate the levels of current and future demand for broadband services for Idaho businesses, households and community anchor institutions. By collecting and analyzing market data, we will be able to profile county-specific broadband service demands and complete a geographic analysis of that demand relative to available infrastructure.

Another challenge LinkIDAHO will address is the absence of coordinated regional leadership to plan and implement local sustainable adoption. Later this year, we will facilitate regional technology planning teams to develop effective, local strategies and regional broadband plans.

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Our Role in Addressing Broadband Challenges and Solutions

LinkIDAHO is not intended to replace or compete with other broadband efforts in our state, but rather to identify and work with new and existing projects that share our goal. Through collaboration, we can finally realize greater access to and use of broadband technologies to improve business opportunities and the quality of life for all Idahoans.