Residents of Independence are being asked to participate in an internet speed test as part of a statewide evaluation of broadband services. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is reviewing grant applications for the Federal Funding Account (FFA) and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) programs. As part of this process, the CPUC has contacted Inyo County to collect current internet speed data from Independence.
The speed test can be accessed at https://connectedeasternsierra.net/speed/. Data collected from the tests will help determine whether reported internet speeds in the area are accurate.
After completing the test, residents can submit their results to the Inyo-Mono Broadband Consortium. This group will forward the information to the CPUC for use in its evaluation of grant applications. The test asks users for their address or town and device type, noting that cell phones cannot be tested. Results are displayed before users are prompted to submit them. A follow-up form allows residents to add comments or contact details if they choose, but identifying one’s current Internet Service Provider is most important.
Scott Armstrong, Eastern Sierra Regional Broadband Coordinator, stated: “While our immediate need for speed test results is for Independence, we’re encouraging all residents in Inyo County to run this test in order to have speed test data available in case the CPUC has any questions in the near future about actual Internet service speeds in other parts of the County.”
Residents outside Independence are also encouraged to participate so that speed data is on hand if needed for other parts of Inyo County.
