Washington State's Department of Information Services will receive $1.7 million in federal funds to work on a broadband mapping project. It also will receive $500,000 for broadband planning activities, with the funds for both projects coming through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Alabama, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Wyoming also will receive funds, with other awards to be announced this fall.

The mapping project is part of a larger effort by the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunication and Information Administration. The goal is to create a national broadband map showing where broadband service is available, what types of technology is being used and the speeds of the service.

The map also will allow individuals to search by address, showing which broadband providers are offering service in a specific neighborhood or larger geographic area.

“This program will advance efforts to expand broadband access and adoption nationwide, which is vital to job creation and economic recovery,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling.

As we've reported in the past, broadband connectivity sucks in the U.S. compared to other countries. And Washington is falling behind other states when it comes to high-speed Internet, dropping in the Speed Matters survey from 6th last year to 16th this year in broadband speeds.

Interestingly, the awards for Idaho and Wyoming are going through a Lynnwood non-profit by the name of the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology.