Kansas Living Magazine Finds Hope in State Broadband Mapping

March 1, 2010

MANHATTAN, KS - Residents of rural Kansas often pay an unwanted price for the country lifestyle they love. As the current Kansas Living Magazine article points out, quality high-speed Internet access is still unavailable in many rural parts of the state. But, with the new Connect Kansas initiative, the Kansas Farm Bureau and the Information Network of Kansas (INK) have provided close to 20 percent in matching funds and helped secure approximately $2 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Kansas.

Detailed mapping of the Sunflower State is now in full swing. Connected Nation was commissioned by the Kansas Department of Commerce to create the Connect Kansas project and work with all Kansas broadband providers to create detailed maps of broadband coverage to accurately pinpoint remaining gaps in broadband availability.

The Kansas Farm Bureau is urging all residents, especially those with dial-up service, to find their way to the Connect Kansas website and take the survey questions there. The information gathered is essential to helping bring high-speed broadband service to the areas that need it most.

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