(Greenwood Village, CO) April 20, 2010: The Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) announced today that it has chosen Critigen, a global technology consultancy for critical infrastructure, and BroadMap, a leading provider of turnkey GIS solutions, to create a comprehensive map of state-wide broadband availability, updating and building upon the baseline map that was released in December of last year. The project is funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), which has allotted $7.2 billion for the development and expansion of broadband nationwide. $350 million of the ARRA is set aside for the Broadband Data Improvement Act enabling states and territories to develop granular and transparent broadband serviceability maps.
“Broadband is a game-changing technology for our communities, transforming how we deliver education, health care, and government services,” said Colorado State CIO Michael Locatis. “Mapping broadband availability helps us ensure that no Coloradan is left out.”
In November of 2009, OIT received $1.6 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period. The partnership between Critigen and BroadMap will ensure that Colorado and its citizens receive the most benefit from this stimulus funding.
Critigen and BroadMap will incorporate multiple sources of location data and feedback from the state’s broadband data providers as well as community anchor institutions – schools, hospitals, senior centers and more – to build the broadband serviceability map. The two companies bring a wealth of experience to the project. Critigen, the world’s largest privately-held geospatial consulting business, will provide local expertise and enhance the project’s community focus by providing broadband availability data to local stakeholders for review and dissemination. BroadMap, experts in aggregating critical data, will compile location information and validate the accuracy of the map.
The map data collected and developed for Colorado by Critigen and BroadMap will also be displayed on the NTIA’s national broadband map, a tool that will help to inform policymakers’ efforts into the future.
About Critigen
Critigen is a global technology consultancy serving as the leader in information management for critical infrastructure. Divested from CH2M HILL’s 63-year, $6.4 billion engineering business, the company leverages deep domain expertise to develop technology-based approaches for some of the most prestigious and progressive clients in the world. Solely focused on the convergence of technology application and mission-critical data, Critigen provides clients a way to visualize, collaborate, secure and manage information – becoming the catalyst for modernizing critical infrastructure. Critigen is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo., with consultants worldwide. Learn more about how Critigen aligns 21st century demands with 21st century answers at www.critigen.com.
About BroadMap
BroadMap provides government, non-profit and commercial business partners with custom-fit, turnkey geospatial solutions. BroadMap’s highly regarded technology team brings its unparalleled GIS expertise, and nearly 200 years of combined mapping experience, to multiple sectors, by creating the most comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date digital maps and solutions available. Providing data aggregation and verification, data conversion and consulting services, BroadMap is a fast-growing, visionary company uniquely prepared to help diverse enterprise customers solve their GIS challenges. BroadMap is headquartered in Glen Allen, Va., with a technology office in Lebanon, N.H. Learn more at www.broadmap.com.