A group that promotes economic development in a five-county region that includes Tuolumne and Calaveras counties is asking residents to take an internet speed test over mounting concerns about unreliable service.
The campaign aims to gather enough community-driven data to push for broadband infrastructure improvements and ensure residents receive the service they’re paying for, according to a news release from the Central Sierra Economic Development District, or CSEDD.
“The more people that participate, the clearer the picture becomes and with that evidence, we can hold internet service providers accountable for the level of service promised to our communities,” Alex Bloom, economic development manager at CSEDD, stated in the release.
Many households and small businesses in the area are paying for high-speed internet service but receiving slower, unstable connections, which in turn can hurt the local economy and threaten public safety in times of emergency, the release stated.
They are asking residents and businesses to take the speed test three times on different days, which will provide a reliable data point that they can use to help advocate for better service from providers and state regulators.
The CSEDD partners with Mother Lode Job Training to provide workforce and economic development assistance to residents and businesses in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties, as well as the cities of Angels and Camp and Sonora.
The district’s speed test is free, takes less than a minute to complete, and the results will remain private, according to the release. To take the test, go to https://speedtest.csedd.org.