The Warren County Board of Supervisors and Warren County Economic Development Corp. are seeking the help of county residents and businesses to assess the breadth and reliability of broadband coverage.
The county and EDC will survey county residents as to how well they can work, study and surf the Internet from their homes, offices, schools and businesses. The goal is to identify gaps and weaknesses so that county officials can apply for relevant grants and successfully advocate for improved broadband coverage with internet service providers and state and federal representatives.
Rachel Seeber, chair of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, said county residents “continue to express to their representatives their desire and need for access to affordable, reliable broadband service. Unfortunately, many people, both at their homes and at their businesses, have poor access or no access, and those who have service often report problems with reliability and speed.
“This survey will help us determine access levels and speeds throughout Warren County and help us map where improvements are needed. We will then work with our county’s state and federal representatives to bring to Warren County the service we desperately need, which is now more important than ever.”
Access to reliable broadband service is essential to current and prospective residents and businesses, Jim Siplon, interim president of EDC Warren County, said.
Warren County and the EDC have been working with ECC Technologies of Penfield, N.Y., which has undertaken similar surveys for numerous other upstate New York counties, on this assessment since September 2020.
The survey will be available online for those who have access and in printed form at stores, schools, libraries and town halls throughout Warren County. Warren County and EDC Warren County are hoping to reach as many residents as possible before March 31.
The survey can be accessed at www.warrencountybroadband.org.
More information can be found by visiting www.warrencountyny.gov or at www.edcwc.org.