To improve broadband internet access in Tompkins County residents and businesses are asked to participate in a survey to determine the needs and opportunities for broadband in the county. The Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability (DPS), in partnership with ECC Technologies of Penfield, NY are working to expand broadband availability to all parts of the county.
County residents are encouraged to visit www.tompkinsbroadband.com to take the broadband survey. The survey consists of an online speed test and a series of questions. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
Paper copies of the survey will be available at the following locations:
- Dryden – Southworth Library Association, 24 W. Main St., Dryden, NY 13053
- Ithaca – Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Groton – Groton Public Library, 112 E. Cortland St., Groton, NY 13073
- Lansing – Lansing Community Library, 27 Auburn Rd., Lansing, NY 14882
- Newfield – Newfield Public Library, 198 Main St., Newfield, NY 14867
- Trumansburg – Ulysses Philomathic Library, 74 East Main St., Trumansburg, NY
ECC Technologies is working with DPS on implementing a seven-step program focused on expanding high speed broadband to all residents and businesses in the county. We are currently in the first step of creating a broadband inventory. Data from this survey along with field inspections will be used to validate the inventory.
Shawna Black, Chairwoman of the Tompkins County Legislature said “Tompkins County residents have expressed a desire for access to affordable, reliable and high-speed internet service. Regrettably, there are still areas in the county where people cannot access broadband internet and reports of unreliable and unaffordable internet service. This survey will help our county determine how to best resolve these issues.”
Tompkins County Administrator Lisa Holmes said “Broadband internet is critically important for the future of Tompkins County. The pandemic has shown us how essential internet access is for work, school, health care and connecting to friends and family. The data from this survey will help us understand precisely where investments are needed to make sure that everyone in the county has the ability to connect to high-speed internet.”
ECC and DPS staff encourage county residents to share this survey with any family, friends, co-workers and neighbors who do not have adequate internet access. The aggregated survey findings may be used by the county to apply for grants. Individual responses to the survey will not be released to any third party.
The broadband survey will remain open until the desired response rate is achieved or 90 days.
Contact:
Nick Helmholdt, Principal Planner / Tourism Program Director
nhelmholdt@tompkins-co.org | 607-274-5560