FILE PHOTO – laptop. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
SALT LAKE CITY — Residents all over the state, including Northern Utah, are being asked to test the speed of their internet connections at home, work, or wherever they connect. The Utah Broadband Center, powered by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, has launched a statewide internet speed test campaign for Utahns to report their internet speed.
Data from this Utah Internet Speed Test will be mapped and used to identify areas of low or now access to high-speed internet in the state. The information will be used to help the state understand internet availability throughout Utah.
GeoPartners, a geospatial engineering firm, is working with the Utah Broadband Center to map the data.
All Utahns are encouraged to go to speedtest.utah.gov to self-report their internet speed. Individuals can also identify areas with low or no service, or where access to the internet is unaffordable within this test and survey.
“Access to reliable and affordable internet connectivity has become increasingly important in our daily lives, and without it, individuals lack access to critical digital resources, such as distance learning, telework, and telemedicine,” said Ryan Starks, Go Utah’s managing director of Business Services, in a release. “The pandemic has heightened the awareness and need for robust internet service statewide, and we encourage all Utahns to take just one minute to participate in the Internet Speed Test.”
Individuals without internet access can call the hotline at 1-435-777-TEST (8378) to report why they don’t have internet access. The Utah Internet Speed Test, which is available in English and Spanish, is secure and the results are anonymous. Data collected will include the location, internet speed, and monthly internet cost.
There’s no limit to the number of times individuals can participate; multiple tests taken at different times help provide an accurate dataset. The state’s goal is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to access the internet and close the digital divide.