The LinkWYOMING Initiative

Welcome to the LinkWYOMING 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:

• The Tri-State Telecommunications Conference will be held at the Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, July 31 - August 2.
• The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comments relating to the development of the State and Local Implementation grant program.
• Application deadline for the USDA Rural Development 2012 Community Connect Grant Program is June 18, 2012.

  USDA RUS will host two webinars to inform participants about the major eligibility and regulatory requirements of the program and will provide detailed guidance on how to submit a successful grant application. Preregistration is required for webinar participation, and space is limited.

• For the first time ever, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching a competition to discover the best ways to increase broadband adoption rates among low-income Americans.
• On April 25, the FCC officially launched its Connect America Fund, an expansion of its phone subsidy program to include support for broadband.
• The Computer Information Systems Advisory Committee of Laramie County Community College will present Information Technology Forum 2012 on May 18, 2012.

  The event includes an open forum discussion where attendees can share technology challenges, initiatives and ideas, and have an opportunity to provide input into the current and future LCCC Information Technology Curriculum.

• Gov. Matt Mead expressed his ongoing commitment and plans for broadband-related efforts in his 2012 State of the State Address. Read an overview and the full State of the State Address delivered by Gov. Mead on Feb. 13.

The LinkWYOMING regional planning teams have determined top broadband priorities and developed regional broadband investment plans.

Region 1 (Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston Counties)

Region 2 (Converse, Natrona and Niobrara Counties)

Region 3 (Carbon and Sweetwater Counties)

Region 4 (Lincoln, Sublette and Uinta Counties)

Region 5 (Fremont and Teton Counties)

Region 6 (Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie Counties)

Region 7 (Albany, Goshen, Laramie and Platte Counties)

Funding for LinkWYOMING

Funding for LinkWYOMING

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 Initiative (SBI) grant program, formerly known as State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD).

In Nov. 2009, Wyoming received an approximately $1.8 million grant to fund the State's SBDD project years 1-2. An additional $2.36 million grant was awarded in Sept. 2010 to fund project years 3-5.

This project serves 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.

Top of Page

Why LinkWYOMING?

Through initial research, we understand there are many reasons Wyoming residents 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 Wyoming assets, we have developed an online, interactive mapping tool revealing our broadband footprint. The state mapping tool displays a detailed footprint of broadband coverage by technology type and speed in both rural and urban areas throughout the state and provides consumers with links to individual broadband providers in their area. Data collected for the LinkWYOMING maps is provided to NTIA for inclusion in the National Broadband Map.

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.

Prior to developing this mapping tool, we were unable to accurately articulate the levels of current and future demand for broadband services for Wyoming businesses, households and community anchor institutions. By collecting and analyzing market data, we are able to profile county-specific broadband service demands and complete a geographic analysis of that demand relative to available infrastructure.

Another challenge LinkWYOMING addressed was the absence of coordinated regional leadership to plan and implement local sustainable adoption. Beginning late 2010, we facilitated regional teams to develop effective, local strategies and regional broadband plans.

Top of Page

Our Role in Addressing Broadband Challenges and Solutions

LinkWYOMING 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 residents of Wyoming.