Wyomingites: Please check your internet speed
Broadband enhancement study underway, public comment accepted until April 26
April 16, 2019
The State of Wyoming is in the process of mapping broadband connectivity and speeds across the state as a part of its efforts to enhance broadband in the State. The mapping exercise asks a few questions, including your address. The speeds will be attached to your address in the data base. Information will be used by the Wyoming Business Council to focus Broadband enhancement efforts. Big Piney, Pinedale, Marbleton, and Sublette County have been working towards obtaining grants to help fund broadband infrastructure in the County and towns.
The best time to test your internet speed is between 4:30pm and 7:00pm, when the most usage occurs. Please click on the speed test map to help provide information so Wyoming can get faster, more reliable broadband access statewide. http://wyobbmap.org/
The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors will consider proposed amendments to the Wyoming Broadband Enhancement Plan on May 16, 2019 in Riverton. Those amendments can be found here:
http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/Uploads/DocumentLibrary/Broadband%20Summit/BBPlan%20Amendments%20as%20adoptted%20by%20Board%204-12-19%20-for%20comment.pdf
Public comment will be accepted on the amendments until April 26. Please email comments to Russ Elliott, russ.elliott@wyo.gov.
Access to high-quality business and residential broadband is essential to developing, growing and attracting businesses, improving academic performance, supporting healthcare, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting investment, educating the workforce of the future, quality of life, and improving Wyoming’s position as a global competitor.
The Federal Communications Commission has established that "advanced telecommunications capability" requires access to download speeds of at least 25 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps. Residents of rural Wyoming areas are limited by access, with an average download speed of just 17 Mbps.
During the 2018 legislative session, Gov. Matt Mead signed into law SEA No. 0036, which handed the Business Council new tools to fulfill that mission. The law provided $10 million to establish a broadband infrastructure grant fund and $350,000 to establish a broadband coordinator position at the Business Council and a Broadband Advisory Council to oversee the agency's efforts.
The Business Council, in conjunction with the ENDOW Executive Council, Governor and the Broadband Advisory Council, has built a Broadband Enhancement Plan and will develop and adopt a broadband funding program.
The State of Wyoming has built a tool that will measure connectivity at any location throughout the state. By taking the speed test, you are participating in the State’s data-collection efforts and giving the State the information they need to determine location and service levels. This data will be shared with providers throughout the state so they can see where Wyoming could use their support and infrastructure.
Please read these instructions before taking the speed test and completing the survey:
• Your location must be in the state of Wyoming.
• It is best if you can take the test in the evening hours, between 4:30PM to 7:00PM.
• If you are on a desktop computer connected to your home or business internet service, continue to the speed test and survey.
• If you are on a mobile device (i.e. smart phone, tablet, laptop, etc.), please ensure that you are connected to the internet via your home or business wireless internet (wifi) before taking the speed test and survey
Click on the speed test map before May 16th to help provide data for this study. http://wyobbmap.org/
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