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Connect Iowa has developed a geoprocessing tool that analyzes Census Block demographics with the aggregated broadband service overlay. Rather than assume that all households are evenly distributed throughout the entire area of a Census Block, the assumption is made that households are more likely distributed along the road line network; while this is not always the case, it is the more likely standard.

We rely on citizen feedback to verify the accuracy of the broadband inventory maps. Please send us your feedback on the following form: http://www.connectiowa.org/broadband-inquiry. We respond to all inquiries and incorporate relevant information on an ongoing basis.

There are several planned and ongoing phases to the verification of broadband data being collected, including provider verification, consumer verification, and field verification.

Initially, after the received data is processed by Connect Iowa, the representation of the service area is sent back to the provider for review and approval, and revisions supplied as necessary. Only after a provider has approved the accuracy of the representation of their service area is their information included for analysis and map display.

Areas within Census Blocks with zero population were not removed from broadband serviced areas as providers have indicated that under the definition of "broadband" set forth in the SBI NOFA, service could be made available to an address in the approved service area within 7-10 business days.

For fixed wireless providers that do not have their footprint in a spatial format to provide to Connect Iowa, information is collected on the wireless network and the individual towers to create wireless propagations. Information such as tower location, tower height, transmit frequency, azimuth, transmit antenna gain, foliage cover, etc. is collected from providers to serve as inputs into a propagation model. The resulting product depicts a graphical illustration of the theoretical propagation characteristics of a selected frequency range based on the defined variables.

Broadband service area data is processed based on the format in which it was delivered to Connect Iowa. Since the majority of broadband providers do not have data stored in any single or standard format, Connect Iowa works with providers to understand their data and network structure to help them “translate” this information into a useful GIS format in order to produce accurate service area representations.

Since the majority of broadband providers do not have data stored in any single or standard format, Connect Iowa works with providers to understand their data and network structure to help them “translate” this information into a useful GIS format in order to produce accurate service area representations. Data can range from ESRI shapefiles, CAD data, spreadsheets, and previously existing maps of coverage areas to a list of served Census Blocks and road segments and everything in between.

As set forth by the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and subsequent clarifications of the State Broadband Initiative Grant Program (SBI), specific data layers illustrating where broadband service is available were submitted to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

The data collection has been done in accordance with the requirements of the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and subsequent clarifications set forth by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) State Broadband Initiative Grant Program (SBI). The process began by contacting all known providers in the state and providing information about the broadband mapping project. Information on broadband service areas was collected from each willing provider through voluntary participation.

Connect Iowa’s state maps display broadband data differently than the National Broadband Map based on the requirements for the submission of data to NTIA.