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Mapping helps get more connected [Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky.](Daily News (Bowling Green, KY) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 19--While children splashed in the fountain at Circus Square Park on Monday afternoon, a group of men gathered around high-tech equipment and listened as Chip Spann, director of engineering and technical services at Connected Nation, explained how to validate broadband service data. "We're bringing out some of the employees to demonstrate the types of equipment," Spann explained as he prepared for his talk. This equipment is used when Connected Nation employees go out and test for broadband availability as part of the National Broadband Plan. Among other things, this plan led to the creation of the National Broadband Map, which shows the availability of broadband around the country. "Twice a year, we're asked by NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) to update these maps," Spann said. "We drive into the field and test the data." The ultimate goal is to provide better Internet service to more areas throughout the country, focusing especially on areas and populations that are underserved now. "At Connected Nation, we're all about getting technology out to people," said Chris McGovern, manager of resource development. Sometimes a provider may claim there is coverage in a certain area when there really isn't, while sometimes there is coverage in an area that wasn't listed as having coverage. "It's kind of like a double check for the state," McGovern said of their going out and testing broadband service. President Barack Obama has often stressed the importance of broadband for economic development and the creation of jobs. In his State of the Union address, Obama vowed to make it possible for business to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans within the next five years. Spann said that as efforts to provide high-speed wireless coverage to more people continue, mapping coverage is especially important. Pointing to a white box with antennas on it, Spann discussed broadband coverage and how to test for it when out in the field. "This helps us test to make sure information we hear from carriers is correct," Spann said. If they find problems, they work to find ways around those problems in an effort to make high-speed wireless service available to more people. "It's really a national issue," said Wes Swietek, communications QA specialist for Connected Nation. "Right now, there are a lot of people who don't have high-speed Internet." ___ To see more of the Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bgdailynews.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544) |