THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR SURVEY
The Tri-County survey is now closed. Results are being tallied and will be delivered to the leadership of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
HELP BRING BROADBAND TO OUR COUNTY!
Now, more than ever, broadband Internet is an essential and crucial service to those who live, learn and work in our County. In some areas, high-speed Internet is not available. In order to bridge this digital divide, our County needs to gain a better picture of which properties do not have the essential internet they need. For this, we need your help!
This survey provides accurate data regarding which properties have Internet access and the affordability if access is available. Information gathered will only be used to support broadband Internet expansion efforts and will aid in seeking grant funding to increase broadband availability in the Tri-County area.
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 Tri-County that do not have broadband Internet or have poor broadband Internet service.
A: Please call our resident answer line at 313-625-0029.
A: Try refreshing the web page, or accessing the link from a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc).
If issues continue, please call our resident answer line at 313-625-0029.
A: Clicking the speed test button at the bottom of this survey will submit your survey answers. The speed test will open on a different page and is the last step to submitting the survey. You may repeat the speed test as many times as you like.
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: At this time, we do not know what technologies will be needed to connect Tri-County residents. The results of this survey will be used to identify where additional infrastructure may need to be built. Once we know where infrastructure is needed, we will look to technical experts to recommend appropriate technologies to meet the needs of our residents.
Complete the survey using one of the two options at the top of this page. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. All survey respondents who enter their address and complete the full survey are automatically entered into the drawing. Only one drawing entry per address is permitted. A mailing address is required to send the prize to the winner. This information is secure and will not be shared with any third party outside of Merit Network and will solely be used for the purpose of broadband data mapping. The odds of winning a gift card depend on the total number of eligible entries.
Each week starting September 20, 2023 through October 27, 2023, three winners will be selected at random, one from each county. The winners will receive their gift card via standard shipping through the USPS to the address entered in the survey. Limit 1 prize per mailing address.
ABOUT TRI-COUNTY
The legislative bodies of the state’s most populated counties – Oakland, Wayne and Macomb – convene to discuss and address matters and issues affecting our shared region at the annual Tri-County Summit.
Last year, Tri-County officials identified broadband availability, accessibility and connectivity as a concern. As a result, Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties have joined together to work with an experienced vendor – Merit Network – to plan and conduct a regional survey to identify availability, gaps, speed and accessibility of broadband. Results will help significantly when applying for upcoming grants and funding opportunities to build and improve broadband infrastructure across the counties.
The more accurate depiction we provide, the better shot we have at obtaining the funding needed to build and improve broadband availability and accessibility for our residents.
This effort is supported by legislative and executive administration in all three counties, making it a truly regional and impactful endeavor.
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, 2022. All rights reserved. Distribution and reuse of this survey is strictly prohibited without prior written consent.