The board in October announced the launch of a joint broadband availability & adoption (BAAT) campaign to determine needs and opportunities for broadband-internet growth in the region. The campaign, which involves a short online survey and speed test, is targeting both residential and commercial addresses.
“We have long known that our county lags behind the more urban counties in the state when it comes to access to affordable, reliable broadband,” Madison County Chairman John Becker said in a statement. “Many people both at their homes and at their businesses have poor to no access, and those that do have access report that broadband speeds are a real problem. This online survey will help us map and determine access levels and speeds throughout Madison County.”
The broadband survey is tailored to ask questions that are pertinent to homes and businesses both with and without access. Respondents will need to enter an address and indicate whether it is for a home or business and will proceed to a survey designed to collect information on demand for services “unique to their location.” Residents who also have an at-home business should take the business survey as well as the home survey.
“We know a lot of people are very unhappy with their service and the lack of options in the county,” said Becker. “With the results from this survey the Madison County Board of Supervisors will have the tools they need to combat the broadband shortage in our community. The data will be used to draw service providers into the area and apply for grants to assist in expanding service.”
Taking the survey
Residents who don’t have internet access at home are encouraged to take the survey, Madison County said. They can either go to their local library, enter in their home address, “skip the speed test completely,” and answer the questions. The survey is also accessible via any mobile device.
Paper copies of the survey will be available at local libraries and town offices. The county is also working with local school districts to send surveys home with students for families to fill out and return.
The survey is available at www.madisonbroadband.com, and the county has provided hard copies to local libraries, town offices, and schools.
Madison County is hoping to reach as many residents as possible before the campaign ends on Dec. 31.
More information is available at www.madisoncounty.ny.gov.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com