Now, more than ever, broadband Internet is an essential and crucial service to those who live, learn and work in Ottawa County. In some areas of Ottawa County, high-speed Internet is not available. In order to bridge this digital divide, the committee needs to gain a better picture of which properties do not have the essential internet they need. For this, we need your help!
TAKE THE SURVEY AND SPEED TEST!
Note that we have TWO surveys. Please select the option that applies to you and/or your household’s situation:
I have internet installed at my house (i.e. fixed internet; it cannot travel with me)
I can only access the internet by mobile device, such as cell phone or hotspot
If you do not pay for Internet service directly into your home, you can take the survey by texting @MOON to 1-855-613-1746. To request a paper survey, please call us at 616-738-4852.
ABOUT THE SURVEY
This survey provides accurate data regarding which properties have Internet access, the affordability if access is available, and the digital literacy of the county residents. Information gathered will only be used to support broadband Internet expansion efforts and will aid the committee in seeking grant funding to increase broadband availability in Ottawa County.
Completing this survey should take five minutes or less. Any information submitted will not be sold, but may be used in planning to expand access opportunities with government and local partners. We understand that you may not have all the necessary information to answer each question on this survey, please answer to the best of your ability.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SURVEY?
A: The goal of this survey is to identify areas of Ottawa County that do not have broadband Internet or have poor broadband Internet service.
A: Contact:
Rich Lakeberg
Project Support Specialist, Ottawa County
[email protected]
616-499-4925
A: Try refreshing the web page, or accessing the link from a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc).
If issues continue, please contact:
Rich Lakeberg
Project Support Specialist, Ottawa County
[email protected]
616-499-4925
A: After you complete the survey online, a confirmation page will show up after you click submit.
A: While the survey will work on a cell phone, participants are encouraged to complete it from a home or business connection.
A: When visualizing bandwidth, or broadband speed, it may help to think of an internet connection as a system of roads. If there is only one lane and a lot of traffic, it will take a long time for a group of cars to reach their destinations. But if more lanes are available, the same group of cars can reach their destinations much quicker. “Broadband” is internet access, but the term refers to a high-speed internet connection that provides a user the capability to upload and download high-quality video, data and images. Current federal standards define broadband as 25 megabits per second for download and 3 megabytes per second for upload. Technology to deliver this connection can include wireless, satellite, fiber and more.
A: If you are wintering somewhere other than your Michigan residence, you should still complete the survey. Please answer the questions for your Michigan home. Do not complete the “speed test” portion of the survey.
A: Simply put, fixed Internet provides Internet access to a single physical location. You cannot take a fixed internet source “with you.” Examples of fixed Internet include wired Internet, satellite Internet, dish and DSL.
A: All residents are encouraged to complete the survey regardless of connectivity status. Even if your residence has internet, it is critical to broadband planning and improvement efforts that your household data is recorded.
A: Residents who work from home should complete the appropriate survey (fixed internet or non-fixed internet). Answer the question “Please indicate if this is a business or residential property” with the answer “Residential.”
A: Yes. You may take the survey questionnaire from any location or device. However, if you have fixed Internet at your home, it is critical to complete the speed test portion of the survey from that internet connection. If you only complete the survey questionnaire and not the speed test, the Michigan Moonshot will send follow up emails requesting participation in the speed test.
ABOUT THE OTTAWA COUNTY DATA COLLECTION STEERING COMMITTEE
The Ottawa County Data Collection Steering Committee will explore the disparate provision of countywide broadband within Ottawa County. The resulting data from that exploration will be used to identify the best solution(s) to achieve county-wide broadband equity, with anticipated expansion of broadband services to areas of need by the year 2024. The collected data will also be used to simultaneously launch necessary digital inclusion initiatives to help ensure County residents not only have access to broadband, but are equipped with the devices and skills needed to succeed in the digital age.
ABOUT THE OTTAWA COUNTY DIGITAL INCLUSION STRATEGY
Ottawa County’s 4-Phase Digital Inclusion Strategy is designed to ensure all county residents have access to affordable and reliable broadband internet service, including necessary internet-enabled equipment and the digital literacy skills needed to succeed in today’s world and tomorrow’s future. Phase 1 of the comprehensive Strategy involves the collection of countywide internet-accessibility data that will be used to inform the County’s decision-making to effectively address existing gaps in digital inclusion. Learn more at www.miottawa.org/broadband.
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN MOONSHOT
The Michigan Moonshot is a collective call to action which aims to bridge the digital divide in Michigan. Stakeholders include Merit Network, the nation’s longest-running research and education network, the Quello Center at Michigan State University and M-Lab, the largest open Internet measurement platform in the world. Learn more about the Michigan Moonshot at Merit.edu/Moonshot.
For more information:
www.merit.edu/moonshot
http://quello.msu.edu/
https://www.measurementlab.net/
Copyright © Merit Network, 2021. All rights reserved. Distribution and reuse of this survey is strictly prohibited without prior written consent.