Utah Broadband Center
The Utah BEAD Program Draft Final Proposal is now available for public viewing.
Click Here to Access It.
What We Do
The Utah Broadband Center (UBC) aims to ensure all Utahns can access reliable, affordable high-speed internet service. Providing high-speed internet to every home and business catapults the state's trajectory as the fastest-growing and best economy in the nation and globally.
Broadband Deployment
Utah’s Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) is a federally funded grant for high-speed internet access and adoption, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Digital Equity Act. Utah received a $317.4 million allocation to build infrastructure where needed and to increase adoption.
BEAD prioritizes unserved locations with no internet access or access to internet speeds under 25/3 Mbps and underserved locations with access to internet speeds under 100/20 Mbps.
Utah has developed a five-year action plan that outlines the strategic priorities for statewide broadband deployment and adoption and important collaboration between states or territories, communities, and stakeholders.
Utah Digital Connectivity Plan and Statewide Digital Access Plan
The Utah Broadband Center (UBC) is responsible for the state’s comprehensive broadband strategy, as mandated by Utah Code §29-36-1093. This strategy is divided into two distinct but complementary plans that work together to ensure every Utahn can thrive in a digital world.
The Utah Digital Connectivity Plan (DCP)
The Digital Connectivity Plan serves as the state’s high-level strategic roadmap. It outlines the master vision for expanding broadband infrastructure to every corner of Utah while promoting digital access.
- Focus: Infrastructure, statewide connectivity implementation, and the overarching framework for digital learning and navigation.
- Role: This is Utah's primary state plan, developed in collaboration with the Utah Broadband Advisory Commission to ensure long-term, sustainable growth.
The Statewide Digital Access Plan
While the Connectivity Plan focuses on the "how" of building networks, the Statewide Digital Access Plan focuses on the "who." This plan provides the granular detail needed to ensure that once infrastructure is available, residents have the ability to use it.
- Focus: Non-infrastructure barriers, specifically affordability, digital skills fluency, and device distribution.
- Role: It acts as a specialized guide for digital inclusion, ensuring that students, families, and the workforce have the tools and training necessary for digital independence.
These plans represent Utah’s commitment to closing the digital divide. By addressing both the physical networks and the human skills required to use them, Utah is creating an ecosystem where connectivity leads to meaningful opportunities in education, healthcare, and economic growth.
Visit the following links for more information.
Broadband Deployment
Grants
View funding opportunities to promote digital access across communities throughout the state.
Internet Speed Test
Help us identify Utah’s areas with the greatest need for internet speed. It only takes 60 seconds.
Maps
FCC National Broadband Map
Benefit of the Bargain (BoB) Map
Provisional Awardee Map
Economic Development Map
Utah Residential Broadband Availability
Utah Broadband Alliance
Created in 2011, the Utah Broadband Alliance coordinates the collaborative statewide effort on broadband adoption and deployment efforts. Members of the council represent a diverse group of interests, including legislators, economic opportunity, state and local government, healthcare, education, libraries, public safety, and tribal entities.
The Utah Broadband Alliance hosts quarterly in-person meetings and virtual monthly calls. Find past recordings, agendas and materials here.
Upcoming Events
“Best Use of Data Award”
The Utah Broadband Center received the “Best Use of Data” at the 2024 Utah IT Excellence Awards ceremony for its “Connecting Utah” initiative. The award recognized UBC’s innovative approach to using technology to implement broadband access and connectivity in the state.
Together, we can bridge the digital divide. Get involved today at [email protected].
