Utah ranked fourth in the nation for internet speed.

• Position: Around Utah

Salt Lake City - In its most recent "State of the Internet" report, Akamai Technologies ranked Utah at No. 4 in the nation, above coastal neighbors California (No. 6) and Washington (No. 9). The report is a quarterly comparison of average internet speeds of states across the country.

Internet speed and infrastructure are crucial components of Utah's position in economic development, technology and education climates. Several studies even suggest a correlation between broadband access and lower unemployment rates.

"Utah was the only inland Western state to be highly ranked," says Tara Thue, manager of the Utah Broadband Project at the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED). "Given Utah's large concentration of rural land, this...