March 24, 2011—Lebanon, NH: BroadMap and the New America Foundation today announced their joint partnership is enabling BroadMap’s State broadband mapping partners to provide speed tests to users. With a click of the mouse the speed test returns, in real time, a visitor’s actual upload and download connection speeds. The resulting data also will allow BroadMap to verify the coverage areas displayed on these States’ broadband maps, to identify potential discrepancies and to support the States’ future broadband planning efforts.

Currently, broadband speeds displayed on State websites are based on advertised maximum download speeds supplied by each broadband provider, which may or may not represent actual speeds experienced by users. Visitors to BroadMap-powered State websites now can test their Internet connection speeds by running a speed test, enabled by the New America Foundation, that analyzes information including download speed, upload speed and latency―the delay between your computer and the server it is accessing―to get a more accurate view of their actual performance.

“Speed test results help us to validate the data given to us by service providers, which in turn helps us to improve State broadband service maps,” said Michael Evers, President of BroadMap. “In addition to informing users about their actual broadband connection speeds, we are using the data to more accurately map areas with true broadband availability and those that are underserved or not served by broadband to help States better plan where improvements are needed.”

“As co-founders of the Measurement Lab (M-Lab) in partnership with Google, the New America Foundation is proud to provide the tools and infrastructure to enable the collection of broadband speed data for States,” said Michael Calabrese, Senior Research Fellow, Open Technology Initiative at the New America Foundation. “Informing users about their connection speeds enhances Internet transparency for individual users and for the State agencies that are planning to expand broadband coverage.”

BroadMap serves business and government GIS users through a unique three-prong approach, offering industry-leading geographic data products, GIS services and solutions. BroadMap’s highly regarded technology team brings nearly 300 years of combined mapping experience across multiple industry sectors. Providing partners with a single destination to meet all their GIS needs including base map and additional data layers, world-class services in geocoding, mapping, boundary creation and consulting and complete, custom, turnkey GIS solutions has allowed BroadMap to establish itself as both a community and market leader. www.broadmap.com

The New America Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy institute that invests in new thinkers and new ideas to address the next generation of challenges facing the United States. The company co-founded the Measurement Lab (M-Lab) with Google Inc. to support the effective study of broadband networks. New America is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and also has a significant presence in California. www.newamerica.net

BroadMap Contact:
Caroline Life, 651-315-8993
Director, Marketing Operations
Email Contact

New America Foundation Contact:
Michael Calabrese, 202-986-9453
Senior Research Fellow, Open Technology Initiative
Email Contact

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