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CHARLESTON -- Region Planning & Development Councils across the state are calling on West Virginia residents to complete a Statewide Broadband Survey by July 30 to help with improving broadband access throughout the state.
All West Virginians are invited by their Region Planning & Development Councils to take the Statewide Broadband Survey on the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement website. The survey will help the State of West Virginia Department of Economic Development's Office of Broadband gain a better understanding of state residences' current internet access and will help them work to improve internet access across the state.
Carrie Wallace, Project Coordinator of Region VII, said the survey is a substitute way for West Virginia residents to express their concerns over broadband internet if they were unable to make their Region Planning & Development Council's listening sessions.
"Region VII Planning & Development Council hosted 12 broadband listening sessions across Barbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Randolph, Tucker, and Upshur counties from March through May, 2023," said Wallace. "Feedback from 242 session participants was forwarded to the WV Office of Broadband to support the development of the state's Digital Equity Plan to deploy broadband across the State from border to border.
"The statewide survey was developed to supplement feedback collected during listening sessions and includes a speed test. The WV Office of Broadband can use the results from the speed tests to challenge FCC maps on our behalf."
The survey is voluntary, around 10 minutes long, and participants must live in West Virginia and be 18 or older to participate. It is preferred that people take the survey from their homes on their favored device and internet connection.
If you do not have internet access at home or prefer to take it offline, you may visit your local library branch to take a paper version of the survey. The survey can be stopped at any time and answers are completely confidential. It is available in both English and Spanish. The survey will be offered until July 30.
Regional Planning & Development Councils across the state have been sending out emails to residents in their respective regions informing them of the survey and its benefits.
A press statement from Region VII states that, "This survey is important because it will help leadership at the state of West Virginia Department of Economic Development's Office of Broadband collect information that will best position the state for plans to improve broadband access, connectivity, and affordability for all West Virginians. There is a collaborative group of leaders and stakeholders across the State committed to this initiative, and this survey is an important part of their process."
To participate in the survey, visit broadband.wv.gov/survey. To learn more about efforts to improve state broadband, visit broadband.wv.gov.