diff --git a/.env b/.env
index 59ad076f..f7a44568 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -74,14 +74,13 @@ CKANEXT__SPATIAL__SEARCH_BACKEND=solr-bbox
 # Customize map widget
 CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__TYPE=custom
 
-# CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__CUSTOM_URL=https://tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
-# CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__ATTRIBUTION=<a href=https://openstreetmap.org/>OpenStreetMap</a> contributors
+# map tile servers options are described at
+# https://github.com/GSA/data.gov/issues/4493#issuecomment-1791347298
 
-# CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__CUSTOM_URL=https://basemap.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/USGSTopo/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
-# CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__ATTRIBUTION=Tiles courtesy of the <a href="https://usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a>
-
-CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__CUSTOM_URL=https://tiles.stadiamaps.com/tiles/stamen_terrain/{z}/{x}/{y}{r}.png
-CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__ATTRIBUTION=<a href=https://stadiamaps.com/>Stadia Maps</a>. <a href=https://openstreetmap.org/>OpenStreetMap</a> contributors
+# it is ok to use any of the three options for development purpose without
+# worrying about the tile server usage limits or CDN caching
+CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__CUSTOM_URL=https://tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
+CKANEXT__SPATIAL__COMMON_MAP__ATTRIBUTION=<a href=https://openstreetmap.org/>OpenStreetMap</a> contributors
 
 CKAN___GOOGLEANALYTICS__ID=UA-00000000-0
 CKAN__TRACKING_ENABLED=true
diff --git a/ckan/setup/ckan.ini b/ckan/setup/ckan.ini
index a32b8e89..c4e9ebd3 100644
--- a/ckan/setup/ckan.ini
+++ b/ckan/setup/ckan.ini
@@ -232,14 +232,20 @@ ckanext.spatial.search_backend = solr-bbox
 # Customize map widget
 ckanext.spatial.common_map.type = custom
 
-ckanext.spatial.common_map.custom_url = /maptiles/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
-ckanext.spatial.common_map.attribution = <a href="http://openstreetmap.org/copyright">OpenStreetMap</a> contributors
+# three map tile servers options are described at
+# https://github.com/GSA/data.gov/issues/4493#issuecomment-1791347298
+
+# otpion 1: paid service
+# ckanext.spatial.common_map.custom_url = https://tiles.stadiamaps.com/tiles/stamen_terrain/{z}/{x}/{y}{r}.png
+# ckanext.spatial.common_map.attribution = <a href=https://stadiamaps.com/>Stadia Maps</a>. <a href=https://openstreetmap.org/>OpenStreetMap</a> contributors
 
+# option 2: free .gov service but less zoom levels
 # ckanext.spatial.common_map.custom_url = https://basemap.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/USGSTopo/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
 # ckanext.spatial.common_map.attribution = Tiles courtesy of the <a href="https://usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a>
 
-# ckanext.spatial.common_map.custom_url = https://tiles.stadiamaps.com/tiles/stamen_terrain/{z}/{x}/{y}{r}.png
-# ckanext.spatial.common_map.attribution = <a href=https://stadiamaps.com/>Stadia Maps</a>. <a href=https://openstreetmap.org/>OpenStreetMap</a> contributors
+# option 3: free .org service with CND caching to reduce load on the server
+ckanext.spatial.common_map.custom_url = /maptiles/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
+ckanext.spatial.common_map.attribution = <a href="http://openstreetmap.org/copyright">OpenStreetMap</a> contributors
 
 ## Harvest settings
 # ckanext-harvest will use ckan.redis.url if redis configuration