Washington State Broadband Office 2011 Report

Did you know? The "Washington State Broadband Office of the Washington State Department of Commerce" is an actual, it seems, entity? They sent me a press release with information on the use and availability of broadband in the State.

Among the findings: "3.88 percent of all Washington households do not have access to broadband" (that number, the report states, is an improvement from 2010).

The press release follows, and more information is available at: http://www.broadband.wa.gov/.

Washington State Broadband Office Releases
2011 Annual Broadband Report
Access improves, private investment increases


Olympia, WA – The Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) of the Department of Commerce released its second annual comprehensive report today on broadband access, availability and use in Washington State.
Highlights of the report include:
• Just over 44 percent of all Washingtonians have a choice of four wireline providers.
• Gaps still exist: 3.88 percent of all Washington households do not have access to broadband – down from 4.3 percent in 2010.
• Grantees began work on more than $200M of American Recovery & Reinvestment Act broadband infrastructure projects.
During 2011, private investment in broadband increased dramatically, particularly among wireless providers which are expanding their 4G service areas. In the state’s most populated areas wireless speeds jumped from 10 mega bits per second (mbps) to 25 mbps.
The report also outlines the goals of WSBO during 2012 and is available online at: http://broadband.wa.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2011BBAnnualRptFINAL.pdf . In addition to the report, updated maps that include broadband availability, upload/download speeds and feedback options are available under the mapping tab at the WSBO website: http://www.broadband.wa.gov/