CARSON CITY - New research by Connect Nevada reveals encouraging news for the state's broadband landscape. Access to higher speeds of Internet service is on the rise in both urban and rural areas across Nevada.
In fact, 8.1 percent more households have access to fixed broadband service of 25 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload (not including mobile wireless or satellite) now than just six months ago.
Also, 2.95 percent more rural Nevada households have access to broadband speeds of 3 Mbps download/768 Kbps upload (including mobile wireless but excluding satellite) than six months ago.
Among the findings of the new broadband availability research are:
• 97.41 percent of Nevada's 1,006,250 households now have access to fixed broadband service of at least 6 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload, not including mobile wireless or satellite. That is an increase of 3.3 percent from October 2012.
• 95.37 percent of Nevada's households now have access to fixed broadband service of at least 10 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload, not including mobile wireless or satellite. That is an increase of 5.08 percent since October 2012. Availability at that speed, including mobile wireless but excluding satellite, is now 98.09 percent. That is an increase of 3.68 percent since October 2012.
• 92 percent of Nevada's households now have access to fixed broadband service of at least 25 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload, not including mobile wireless or satellite. That is an increase of 8.1 percent from October 2012.
• 94.29 percent of Nevada's nearly 121,000 rural households now have access to broadband speeds of at least 3 Mbps download/768 Kbps upload, including mobile wireless but excluding satellite. That is an increase of 2.95 percent since October 2012.
"It is encouraging to see continued increases in broadband availability, especially at speeds above the 3 Mbps mark," said Connect Nevada Program Manager Lindsey Niedzielski. "Higher broadband speeds allow Nevadans to really use all the resources available on the Internet. It's critical that we keep growing access to higher speeds across the state to ensure Nevada remains competitive in the national and global economies as well as providing our residents with all the other educational, safety and lifestyle opportunities the Internet brings."
Last year, Connect Nevada released an innovative new broadband mapping tool called My ConnectView TM offering unmatched views of the Nevada technology landscape.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to use the interactive map to find area providers and help validate the data. To report that broadband is not available in a given area, consumers can fill out a broadband inquiry.
Nonprofit Connect Nevada has been working since 2009 to ensure that Nevada residents have access to the economic, educational and quality of life benefits derived from increased broadband access, adoption and use.
Part of that work includes maintaining detailed analysis of broadband availability across the state to support broadband planning efforts.
Through its Connected Community Engagement Program, Connect Nevada is currently working with 14 communities across the state to support comprehensive community broadband planning efforts and provide technical assistance.
Connect Nevada's research was conducted as part of the State Broadband Initiative grant program for Nevada, funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The data was gathered in accordance with the requirements of the NTIA. The process begins by contacting all known providers in the state and providing information about the broadband mapping project.
Information on broadband service areas is collected from each provider through voluntary participation and is subject to confidentiality protections.
Connected Nation strives to maintain a flexible mapping process to be able to collect data from providers in a variety of formats based on providers' technical capabilities and resources.[[In-content Ad]]
