Understanding the Broadband Map

Colorado Broadband Office Broadband Map

The Colorado Broadband Map displays broadband availability throughout the state of Colorado as reported by service providers. Use the ‘I want to…” menu to display the data in different ways.  

Find Broadband Providers

  • This allows users to search for an address in the state. The map will zoom to the address and provide a list of available providers at that address, as well as available speeds, the type of available coverage, and a link to the provider’s website

Filter Coverage

  • View broadband coverage by numerous criteria, including speed, technology type (DSL, Fiber, Wireless, etc), service type (Residential or Commercial), and the number of providers serving an area. The check on/off buttons allow you to view the service type and speed tiers you are interested in seeing.  

View Broadband Coverage

  • Displays available coverage throughout the state by speed tier. Green colors represent high speeds and move across the spectrum to red colors, representing lower speeds.

 View Broadband Data Quality Confidence

  • Shows broadband coverage across the state but is symbolized based on our confidence in the accuracy of the data. Many factors are taken into account when calculating this score including data type and how current the data is. Please take these confidence scores into account when viewing coverage across the state. For more information on Confidence scores please see the data confidence FAQ section below.

Find a Community Anchor Institution

  • Displays CAI’s throughout the state. A community anchor institution is a facility that serves the community, such as a school, library, hospital, or fire department. You can click on a CAI for more information or search for a CAI of interest. 

View Speed Test Results

  • Shows the speed test results taken by residents across Colorado. The speed tests are categorized by download speeds, where dark green dots represent higher recorded download speeds and red dots represent lower recorded download speeds. To take a speed test please visit our site and submit your results in the corresponding survey. If you don’t have broadband access at your home and are using a computer somewhere else, please fill out our survey. 

View Broadband Board Data Toolkit

  • Displays areas of priority throughout the state by color. Red areas are determined areas of need in the state. In this view you can also find layers such as funded regions and economic development zones. This tool was created to help the state broadband board decide where to allocate state broadband funding.

 

 

FAQ

Why are there white gaps on the map?
White gaps on the map indicate a lack in broadband coverage according to our collected data.
What do I do if there is no coverage in my area?
If there is no coverage in your area, please take our Broadband Survey to bring more awareness to your area of need.
What do the speeds mean?
Speeds are displayed by maximum advertised download speed in megabits per second. This means the speeds shown are the highest possible download speed package offered by a provider in any given area. Higher speeds allow a faster internet connection and lower speeds offer a slower internet connection.
What are the different types of service?
There are multiple types of broadband service. We categorize them into four major groups (Landline, Wireless, Mobile and Satellite). You can discover the different technology types at the link below: Types of Broadband Connections
What are all of the acronyms?
GBPS – Gigabits per second
MBPS – Megabits per second
KBPS – Kilobits per second
CAF – Connect America Fund
CAI – Community anchor institutions
What is the best service for my area?
This is based on availability and customer preference. To help determine the best option for you, please use the ‘Find broadband providers’ tool to assess providers and service availability in your area.
What is data confidence?
Data confidence is our way of showing how confident we are in the accuracy of the data provided to us. For more information on confidence scores and how scores are determined please see the following link: Data Quality Metrics
How is the data collected?
All of our data is collected from the providers themselves. We perform a bi-annual data call asking providers for updates to their coverage area or speeds. The data is then standardized, anonymized and merged into one data set. If we do not receive data or permission from a provider they are left off of our map. Click here to see a list of participating providers.
How is the data processed?
The data is processed differently depending on the type of data delivered by the provider. To increase customer security, landline data is displayed in Public Land Survey System Quarter Quarter sections. (PLSS QQ) The data shown is any QQ served by a provider. Wireless data is displayed by propagated model. The topography of Colorado can create coverage gaps in these propagated models, as certain areas of the state contain natural barriers for wireless signals. Click here for more information on how broadband data is processed.
How often is the map updated?
The map is updated twice per year (April and October).
What if I see an inaccuracy in the map/data?
The State of Colorado does not guarantee the accuracy, precision, or completeness of the data within this map. Neither the State nor its staff members are liable or responsible for any damage or loss resulting from the use of the data or from inaccuracies contained in the data. Users are urged to contact broadband providers directly to verify critical information. For any other questions or concerns, please contact the team.
How do I take a speed test?
To take a speed test, click here and take the corresponding survey.

Explore the Colorado Broadband Map here:

Colorado Broadband Map


Have questions? Feel free to Contact Us!