Some lack access to high-speed Internet

WASHINGTON — As many as one in 10 Americans can’t get Internet connections that are fast enough for online activities such as watching video or teleconferencing, and two thirds of schools have connections that are too slow to meet their needs. Those are some of the conclusions from the Commerce Department as it unveiled an interactive map showing what types of high-speed Internet connections are available — or missing — in every corner of the country.

The national broadband map, which was mandated by the 2009 economic stimulus bill, went live Thursday at www.broadbandmap.gov. Government officials hope the map will help guide policymakers, researchers and telecom companies as they seek to bridge the digital divide in even the most remote reaches of the U.S. They also hope the map will aid consumers who want to find out what options are available where they live.