Which States Have Dedicated Broadband Offices, Task Forces, Agencies, or Funds?

States differ in how they manage broadband deployment and which agencies or offices they task with identifying challenges, charting goals, and encouraging investment. Some states have a centralized office responsible for managing or coordinating broadband efforts. In others, multiple agencies have jurisdiction over broadband. More than half of states have established dedicated funds to support the deployment of high-speed internet, and many have developed goals, plans, and maps for expansion of access. This downloadable table by Pew Charitable Trusts indicates whether a state has the following:

• Office: A centralized office for broadband projects.

• Agency: State agency(ies) involved in broadband projects.

• Task force: A formalized team—often involving multiple agencies and sectors—dedicated to broadband issues.

• Broadband fund: A funding mechanism(s).

• Broadband goal: The result that the state’s broadband program is working to achieve.

• Broadband plan: A document that defines objectives, and the actions to be taken to reach them.

• Broadband map: A mapping effort underway to identify where broadband is and isn’t.

[Anna Read is a senior officer and Lily Gong is an associate with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ broadband access initiative.]