Internet Access and Speed in the Lakes Region

[Lakegeezer]

Have you taken the NH Internet Speed Test!? The New Hampshire Broadband Mapping and Planning Program (UNH led) is collecting data for their research. This data (or "these data" for you geeks) helps undeserved communities plan projects and apply for grants to improve internet infrastructure.

As of early 2014, over three thousand NH households and businesses registered and took the speed test. Town profiles are at linked from the home page at www.iwantbroadbandnh.org To see Moultonborough's graphic, Click on this link. State wide, more than 50% of 8000 tests are below FCC's minimum download performance standards of 4 megabits per second.

Next time you are at a lakes region residence, please run the test at least once between now and September. Encourage your neighbors to run it too, and try it over your small business networks. Forum member participation could make a difference in the lake region's internet future infrastructure.

The link for the NH speed-test is at www.iwantbroadbandnh.org/speed_test. Enter the street address from where you are running the test. It only takes a few minutes and you get your results right away. The test is similar to other speed tests, but standardized for this research project, so your results may vary.

I'm reaching out to Moultonborough residents to encourage strong participation. Last I heard, there were only 20 data points across the whole town. Surely we can light the map up with many more. This will help highlight the under-served areas as well as good areas for telecommuters and other bandwidth needy businesses.

I just took the test and got 1.51 mbps download and 2.19 upload speed. What's yours?