Which States Have Dedicated Broadband Offices, Task Forces, Agencies, or Funds?
A review of state strategies for improving access
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.
How Has Your State Designed Its Broadband Program?
A 50-state overview of efforts to expand high-speed, reliable internet access
Alabama Digital Expansion Division
Alaska Office of Broadband
Arkansas Department of Commerce Broadband Office
Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy
Colorado Broadband Office
The Office of State Broadband
Florida Office of Broadband
Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office
Illinois Office of Broadband
Indiana Broadband Office
Kansas Office of Broadband Development
Kentucky Office of Broadband Development
ConnectLA (Louisiana State Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity)
Maine Connectivity Authority
Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband
Massachusetts Broadband Institute
The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
Minnesota Office of Broadband Development
Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM)
Office of Broadband Development
Office of Broadband Initiatives
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
New York State ConnectALL Initiative
North Carolina Division of Broadband & Digital Equity
BroadbandOhio
The Oklahoma Broadband Office
Oregon Broadband Office
Office of Broadband Initiatives
Rhode Island Broadband Development Program
The Office of Broadband Coordinator
Texas Broadband Development Office
Utah Broadband Center
Vermont Community Broadband Board
Office of Broadband
Washington State Broadband Office
The West Virginia Office of Broadband
Wisconsin Broadband Office
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.