By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
It’s no secret that the majority of Tucker County is lacking in speed and reliability when it comes to internet services. In some of the more rural areas of the county, internet service isn’t available at all due to either lack of provider, technical limitations, or geographical location. In today’s parameters, internet has climbed the ladder being deemed more of a necessity rather than a luxury.
Dennis Filler, Tucker County Planner, informed as part of a USDA grant known as Developing Rural America, Tucker County is able to conduct a needs assessment through a survey to provide proof of need to open doors for grant opportunities. There were only six of these grants nation-wide available to conduct studies, one of which was awarded to Tucker County.
All residents of Tucker County are strongly encouraged to take a few moments to fill out this short, very straight forward survey at http://bit.ly/tuckerinternet The survey has a link to open a new window to run a speed test on your current internet speeds to compare what users service speeds are to that of broadband. Your name and email address are optional, but it does ask for your address so locations can be pinpointed on a map.
The survey continues to ask you to choose between a few options relating to the availability of services in your area and the current carrier you have service with. The final questions relate to the reliability and quality if your cell service. At the bottom, an aerial map marks the location according to the address listed. Take a moment to ensure the marker is properly aligned with your home and/or business, which can be adjusted if needed. Once the marker is accurate, you click to add the location to the broadband map and that completes the survey.
You do not have to complete this survey on a home computer system; this can easily be done within five minutes at the Public Libraries where the employees would be happy to assist. Filler has also offered his office in the Courthouse as a location to complete the survey, which he is also willing to help complete.
