The Internet speed study project team has encouraged Indigenous and local governments who wish to participate in the study to complete the online questionnaire; and ask their residents, businesses, and other community stakeholders to do the CIRA Internet speed test. The deadline for submissions is May 28, 2021.
Questionnaire
To enable TANEx Engineering to analyze the information fully, Indigenous and local governments are asked to complete the online questionnaire. Because province-wide field testing does not form part of this project, the questionnaire is the best way to gather background information about the geographic areas experiencing discrepancies between actual Internet service speeds, and federal government data on the Internet service speeds that should be available.
CIRA Internet Speed Test in Your Community
For the geographic areas in question, it is useful and important for residents and stakeholders to complete a CIRA speed test. As with the online questionnaire, early completion of CIRA speed tests will give TANEx Engineering time to analyze the speed test data thoroughly. Ideally, TANEx would like the bulk of CIRA speed tests completed by mid-June 2021.
The more CIRA speed tests completed, the better the depth and accuracy of the Internet speed data for a particular geographic area. Robust data can confirm the existence of discrepancies and strengthen the findings of the Internet speed study. This will place BC on solid footing when communicating with the federal government about discrepancies between Internet service levels on federal maps, when compared to the actual Internet service speeds that residents and stakeholders experience. The tests should be conducted by many people within your geographic area; if possible, multiple times a day.
Promote the CIRA Internet Speed Test
Below are outreach ideas to help promote community participation within your geographic area.
- share the link to the CIRA Internet speed test on your local or Indigenous government website and social media platforms;
- to reward participation, consider developing a contest, establishing competition between different areas, or offering perks for completing a CIRA Internet speed test;
- staff working at home during the pandemic may live in different neighbourhoods or communities, so ask them to participate in the testing, and to encourage their local family and friends to join in;
- engage with community stakeholders, who can ask their members, volunteers, staff, and clients to complete the CIRA Internet speed test:
- ratepayers or neighbourhood associations, or other resident organizations;
- chamber of commerce or business community, and local industry;
- educational institutions, libraries, museums, arts and culture organizations;
- social and community service organizations, and religious organizations;
- healthcare institutions and allied professionals, as well as volunteer fire service; and
- seniors’ groups, and recreational and minor sport organizations.
You can also share this step-by-step guide to completing the CIRA Internet speed test.
Background
This Internet speed study aims to better understand the factors contributing to the difference between Internet speed data published on the federal government’s National Broadband Internet Service Availability Map, and community experiences in BC. This study is a collaboration between the provincial Ministry of Citizens’ Services, Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), and UBCM, with research and analysis to be carried out by TANEx Engineering.
For further information about the online questionnaire or the CIRA speed test, please contact Kerri-Anne Thomas, Project Manager, TANEx Engineering.