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Faster, Reliable Internet for Everyone (Including Businesses) - A Plan for Monterey County
Monterey County has launched a "Broadband Strategic Plan" to ensure all county residents and businesses have access to fast, affordable, reliable broadband access. While some rural areas of the county have poor or non-existent broadband access, even Chamber members in places with high residential and commercial density report occasionally spotty broadband performance. Part of the Broadband Strategic Plan includes a “benefits analysis” that strongly emphasizes fast internet service as a driver of economic growth and quality job creation for the county.
Currently the Broadband Strategic Plan consultants are conducting a needs assessment survey (which includes needs of businesses) and collecting data through speed testing to identify areas with poor service. Maps of broadband speed on the Monterey Peninsula show that the City of Marina, in particular, has relatively poor service. You are encouraged to participate in the Monterey County speed testing by going to the website County of Monterey Internet Speed Test and by filling out the survey at the website County of Monterey Broadband Community Survey.
On Friday, June 2, there will be a "Broadband for All" Workshop held at CSUMB. It’s hosted by the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP), the Central Coast Broadband Consortium (consisting of Monterey County, San Benito County, and Santa Cruz County), the California Department of Technology (CDT), and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Officials at this workshop will be making presentations and taking comments on the regional implementation of the State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP) and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan. To register for this event, go to this link: Broadband for All, Digital Equity, and BEAD Planning Workshop Registration.
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