The Delaware Department of Technology and Information (DTI) is taking steps to maintain Delaware’s position as the nation’s leading state for high-speed broadband networks.
A recent Akamai’s State of the Internet Report ranked Delaware second behind the District of Columbia in Internet speeds.
Following a successful first round of Broadband Grant funding in 2014 and 2015 for Internet Services Providers (ISPs) to extend high-speed broadband services to their customers, particularly in rural underserved areas, DTI is reviewing applications received for the second round of grant funding for three pilot projects.
The state will assess the viability for providers to extend high-speed wireless service into areas around Seaford and Marydel, with a municipal Wi-Fi network in Rehoboth Beach.
The state expects the third round of funding will add additional wireless high-speed Internet services to additional rural communities.
The Markell administration also issued the above video on the impact of broadband in driving economic opportunity, enhancing quality of life and improving health care through telehealth services.
“Supporting economic mobility and opportunity for everyone in today’s economy requires access to high-speed internet,” stated Markell.
“Whether it is giving students the tools at school and at home to get the most out of their education, ensuring businesses have the ability to compete efficiently and effectively, or making available telemedicine to improve access to health care, expanding high-speed broadband raises the quality of life for our citizens. I’m proud of the progress we have made together to make Delaware the best state in the nation for Internet speeds and, with new rounds of grants from the state, I’m confident we can build on this progress toward becoming the first state where everyone has access to all of the benefits broadband provides.”
“Broadband access has become like a utility,” said Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins . “If you’re going to operate and be successful in the information age you need access to broadband.”
“In many instances we’re getting orders for customers, and the first truck has to be rolling out of our gate within three to six hours,” said Edward Krupka, Jr, chief Information officer for Burris Logistics. “For us to miss an order or miss processing times because of a network failure means that we’ll miss out on the service levels that we guarantee to our customers.”
“One of the key aspects of this investment (in broadband) is the quality of life to our citizens and visitors. (It has) a direct impact on their level of service and as a result it’ll improve Sussex County’s attractiveness,” said Todd Lawson, Sussex County Administrator, who emphasized broadband’s role in supporting economic development and quality of life.
“To see a specialist, downstate patients may need to travel great distances, maybe 200-300 miles (taking) a whole day,” Carolyn Morris, director of Telehealth Planning and Development for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, said. “Having broadband in Sussex County, the services will be able to be delivered in the community.”
