High-tech map shows Internet availability.

• Author: Pounds, Nancy
• Position: Inside Alaska Business

A new interactive, online map of Alaska now provides details of high-speed Internet availability statewide. The site, www.connectak.org, was developed by the Connect Alaska initiative and the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Connect Alaska is a subsidiary of the national nonprofit Connected. The Alaska website was developed with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Connect Alaska is funded through a $1.9 million award by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration to launch the initiative in the state and carry out the work over a five-year period. A similar national map is due to be available in February.

Alaska's newly completed map shows great progress in spreading broadband across the state. Eighteen broadband providers offered data showing that 90 percent of Alaskans can access broadband. However, of those, only 77 percent of residents report using broadband at home. The Connect Alaska initiative will continue the...