Delaware, the second smallest state in the union, is rated #1 in the U.S. in Internet connection speed by the Akamai’s State of the Internet Report. The state is ranked third by the TechNet State Broadband Index based on broadband adoption, network quality and economic support. And the hits keep coming.

James Sills, Secretary of Delaware’s Department of Technology and Information, gives listeners a peek at the secret of Delaware’s broadband success, and also some of the state’s challenges. Serving in the office since 2009, Sills has been on a mission to put Delaware on the leading edge of technology. The state received broadband stimulus money from NTIA for mapping and planning activities.

The Secretary addresses issues that face most statewide initiatives:

driving adoption in urban areas where disinterest can be a bigger challenge than accessibility convincing providers to deliver service in sparsely populated areas keeping broadband maps current and relevant using broadband to impact economic outcomes