Which States Have Dedicated Broadband Offices, Task Forces, Agencies, or Funds?

A review of state strategies for improving access

Which States Have Dedicated Broadband Offices, Task Forces, Agencies, or Funds?

Editor’s Note: This article was updated September 14, 2022, to reflect state-level changes since July 18, 2022.

Over the past several years, states have steadily increased their efforts to expand broadband access. All 50 states now have active broadband programs, but the structures of those programs vary: Some involve have a central office responsible for managing or coordinating broadband efforts, while others distribute the work across multiple agencies.

These state programs—as well as recently launched efforts in Washington, D.C., and most U.S. territories—must now administer billions of federal broadband dollars provided to them through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

This downloadable table indicates whether a jurisdiction has the following:

  • Office: A centralized authority for broadband projects.
  • Agency: One or more departments working on broadband projects.
  • Task force: A formal team—often involving multiple agencies and sectors—dedicated to broadband issues.
  • Fund: A dedicated resource that makes grants to localities, internet service providers, Tribes, cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, or public utility districts to expand broadband access.
  • Goal: An outcome that the state’s broadband program is working to achieve.
  • Plan: A document that defines objectives and the actions necessary to meet them.
  • Map: A visual representation of where broadband is and is not available.
Share

How Has Your State Designed Its Broadband Program?

Office

A 50-state overview of efforts to expand high-speed, reliable internet access

ALAKAZARCACOFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMIMNMSMOMTNENVNMNYNCNDOHOKORPASCSDTNTXUTVAWAWVWIWYVTNHMARICTNJDEMDDC
Alabama

Alabama Digital Expansion Division

Add state to table
Alaska

Alaska Office of Broadband

Add state to table
Arizona
Add state to table
Arkansas

Arkansas Department of Commerce Broadband Office

Add state to table
California

Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy

Add state to table
Colorado

Colorado Broadband Office

Add state to table
Connecticut

The Office of State Broadband

Add state to table
Delaware
Add state to table
District of Columbia
Add state to table
Florida

Florida Office of Broadband

Add state to table
Georgia
Add state to table
Hawaii

Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office

Add state to table
Idaho
Add state to table
Illinois

Illinois Office of Broadband

Add state to table
Indiana

Indiana Broadband Office

Add state to table
Iowa
Add state to table
Kansas

Kansas Office of Broadband Development

Add state to table
Kentucky

Kentucky Office of Broadband Development

Add state to table
Louisiana

ConnectLA (Louisiana State Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity)

Add state to table
Maine

Maine Connectivity Authority

Add state to table
Maryland

Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband

Add state to table
Massachusetts

Massachusetts Broadband Institute

Add state to table
Michigan

The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office

Add state to table
Minnesota

Minnesota Office of Broadband Development

Add state to table
Mississippi

Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM)

Add state to table
Missouri

Office of Broadband Development

Add state to table
Montana
Add state to table
Nebraska
Add state to table
Nevada
Add state to table
New Hampshire

Office of Broadband Initiatives

Add state to table
New Jersey
Add state to table
New Mexico

New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

Add state to table
New York

New York State ConnectALL Initiative

Add state to table
North Carolina

North Carolina Division of Broadband & Digital Equity

Add state to table
North Dakota
Add state to table
Ohio

BroadbandOhio

Add state to table
Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Broadband Office

Add state to table
Oregon

Oregon Broadband Office

Add state to table
Pennsylvania

Office of Broadband Initiatives

Add state to table
Rhode Island

Rhode Island Broadband Development Program

Add state to table
South Carolina

The Office of Broadband Coordinator

Add state to table
South Dakota
Add state to table
Tennessee
Add state to table
Texas

Texas Broadband Development Office

Add state to table
Utah

Utah Broadband Center

Add state to table
Vermont

Vermont Community Broadband Board

Add state to table
Virginia

Office of Broadband

Add state to table
Washington

Washington State Broadband Office

Add state to table
West Virginia

The West Virginia Office of Broadband

Add state to table
Wisconsin

Wisconsin Broadband Office

Add state to table
Wyoming
Add state to table
No
Yes
Show Data Table

Source: Pew analysis of state data. This data is current as of July 18, 2022.

To learn about the state laws that govern these efforts, visit our "State Broadband Policy Explorer."

Anna Read is a senior officer and Lily Gong is an associate with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ broadband access initiative.

Student at computer
Student at computer
Fact Sheet

3 Key Components to Effective State Broadband Programs

Quick View
Fact Sheet

States throughout the country have created programs to expand broadband connectivity for their residents. And although the configuration of these programs varies, research has indicated that the most successful ones include the same core components: a state-level broadband office with full-time staff, systems to support local and regional planning and technical assistance, and well-funded competitive grant programs for internet service providers, such as telephone and cable companies, wireless internet service providers, electric cooperatives, and municipal utilities

Remote classroom
Remote classroom
Article

Broadband Proved a Top Priority for State Policymakers

Quick View
Article

States nationwide committed last year to significant funding to expand access to broadband services, even amid an economic recession. The COVID-19 pandemic—and the necessity to move routine activities such as schooling and doctors’ visits online to maintain social distancing—sharpened the focus of governors and lawmakers in 2020 on the need to close the digital divide.

Composite image of modern city network communication concept

Learn the Basics of Broadband from Our Limited Series

Sign up for our four-week email course on Broadband Basics

Quick View

How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?