Broadband Stimulus Data

Over the past few weeks, we have been bombarded with requests for broadband connectivity and internet usage data. Turns out that as part of the Obama Administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that $7.2 billion in Federal grant monies have been set aside to help bring high speed internet to communities without access.

For those that receive a grant, these companies and communities receive $0.80 on the dollar for all expense to provide the access. Pretty good incentive if you asked me.

However, for companies and communities to apply for the grant, they must have data and maps that shows the current connectivity and usage. That's the dilemma. That data does not exist. Why? Because only the carriers have this data and they treat as highly confidential. However - a requirement it remains.

As such, many communities and carriers have not been able to apply for these substantial grants. That is until now. We recently announced the development of the first national database of internet connectivity and usage down to the Census level geography needed.

By accessing our proprietary databases of internet users, we were able to combine with our analytics to produce the data and maps needed.

Pretty exciting stuff. Who would have thunk that a company focused on ID Theft and fraud would be creating a database to enable a computer in every home and classroom. Should be interesting watching this all play out.

A.E>>>