The California Interactive Broadband Map
The California Interactive Broadband Map is a tool for
California citizens to find and investigate broadband services in their area. The
Map displays all of the broadband providers offering service within the area around
a particular address. The data currently displayed represents the situation as of
June 30, 2012. The map will be updated approximately every six months.
-
View the California Interactive Broadband Map
- NOTICE: If you have used the California Broadband Availability interactive website prior to September 14, 2012, please be informed that the Census Block Group Household counts did not include mobile broadband coverage. An updated count of Households by Census Block Group including mobile broadband coverage is now available
This map was created by the team efforts of the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) Video Franchise / Broadband Deployment Group and the California State University
Chico Research Foundation through a grant from the State Broadband Data and Development
(SBDD) Grant Program. In 2009 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger designated the CPUC
as the single California entity eligible to receive the grant which is funded by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The grant program is
administered by the Department of Commerce through the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA). The data collected for the California interactive
map will also be contributed toward the creation of the national broadband inventory
map.
How are the broadband data used? There are a number of uses for the information
we are collecting and mapping. A primary use is for California residents to be able
to access information about the broadband services available to them, and to make
them a better informed consumer. Equally important, our broadband information is
used to inform public policies intended to make sure broadband is available throughout
California, and to promote digital literacy and broadband usage. Data collected
by the CPUC is also used by the federal government for the same policy purposes.
What exactly is broadband? The broadband information we collect is determined
by NTIA’s
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) July 8, 2009 which defines broadband
as a “two-way data transmission to and from the Internet with advertised speeds
of at least 768 kilobits per second (kbps) downstream and at least 200 kbps upstream
to end users.” Further, only when new service requests can be provisioned
within a normal service interval of 10 days or fewer is service considered “available.”
Thus, most business services are not represented on the Map, as they generally take
longer to be provisioned.
What data is collected? Pursuant to the NOFA, the CPUC collects certain data from
broadband providers in California including the availability of broadband services,
the technology used to provide them, and the maximum advertised speeds at which
broadband services are offered. The CPUC began collecting the data in 2009 and will
collect it twice yearly for the term of the Grant Program which runs through September,
2014.
We separate broadband services into several categories: fixed, mobile and satellite.
The “fixed” category includes all those services which are delivered
to a particular, stationary location. Such services are provided using several different
technologies, including “wireline” technologies such as xDSL, Cable
Modem, or Fiber to the Home. These technologies use wires or cables that make a
physical connection from the provider to the user. However, “fixed wireless”
solutions use wireless radio waves at a particular frequency, such as Wi-Fi, to
make a “point-to-point” connection between the provider and the user
at a fixed location. By contrast, the “mobile” category includes “wireless”
technologies, such as 2G, 3G or 4G to provide service to users who can receive a
broadband signal while the user is in motion. The “satellite” category
includes those providers who use a connection via satellite to the customer to provide
service. Each technology has its own speed and quality characteristics. The best
solution for any individual depends on availability, speed, whether mobility is
required, and a host of other factors, including price.
How is the data collected? The CPUC issues a Data Request twice yearly to
California broadband providers. The data then undergoes various quality checks to
make sure they are valid and to format them properly for display and analysis. Once
this process is complete, the CPUC creates a series of state broadband availability
maps, which are posted below, and displays the information on the Interactive Map.
In addition, we forward the data to the NTIA, which uses them for the National Broadband
Inventory Map. The data request, record formats, and other information can be found
on the
State Broadband Mapping Program webpage.
How accurate is the Map’s representation of broadband availability?
It is important to understand that the map is not accurate down to the individual
household. Rather, the Map uses the smallest geographic area established by the
U.S. Census Bureau – the “census block.” Data is collected at
the census block level for census blocks 2 square miles or smaller. For larger census
blocks, we collect data at the road segment level. So, if the census block (or portion
of a street) in which you live is shown as served, that means there is service somewhere
by at least one provider that includes at least one address in the same census block
(or street segment) in which you live. The Map will provide a link to the web site
of each provider in the area so that you can further research the availability,
speed, quality and prices of service available to you.
The Map says it is a “Beta” version. What does this mean? We’ve
indicated this release of our Map is a Beta version as the data we are using to
make the map is not in its final form. Our data will be continuously improved in
many ways. For example, providers will update their data every 6 months as the area
and technical aspects of their service changes. New providers will be added as they
enter the market and make themselves known to us. And, while we have taken certain
steps to verify the data we’ve received, we will be introducing new and better
verification techniques, and will soon be rating each provider’s data on a
reliability scale.
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to produce an interactive map
that is both accurate and current, it is possible that some information might not
reflect actual available broadband service. The Map is a very good starting point,
but neither the CPUC nor the providers can warrant the accuracy of the data. Because
of this, the Map may show service available within a given census block although
not all addresses within that census block have to access the service. Other factors
such as hills or foliage may affect wireless broadband access in certain areas even
though service is available. Finally, while we show satellite providers available
throughout the state, the ability to receive a usable signal at any given location
will depend on having a direct view of the sky where the satellite orbits.
Optional Survey. The Map gives you the opportunity to give us feedback about
broadband service at your location. We urge you to join us in making improvements
to the Map by providing us with more information through your participation.
Contact Us
Feedback from users is encouraged and will help improve the accuracy of this interactive
map tool. In addition to taking the Map’s survey you may contact the Broadband
Mapping Group with questions and comments at
broadbandmapping@cpuc.ca.gov.
The Broadband Mapping Grant Program is funded by