June 15, 2015

 

Sam Shaw (NE)

 

I wonder if any states have a question or questions on their surveys about internet connection speeds. In our state, we have been asking the library to provide a range of their download speed (e.g. 0 - 1.5 Mbps, 1.5-3.0, etc.). There has been a suggestion to change the question from a range to an actual speed and possibly the subscribed speed (either down, or both up and down). To me, this seems to raise a whole host of issues, including how (I know the digital inclusion survey recommended speedtest.net) and when to do the speed test (again, digital inclusion recommended doing the test when the library was closed). Finally, there is the issue of the accuracy of the testing.

 

If you have such a question on your survey, I’d be grateful if you could share the question/instructions for it. Thanks!

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SDC Responses

 

Laura Stone (AZ)

 

AZ asks variations on this question:

 

10A.12                 Type of Internet Connectivity

Enter a description of your library’s type of connection:

• DSL
• Cable
• Leased Line
• Municipal Networks
• State Network
• Satellite
• Fiber
• Wireless (i.e., municipal wireless)
• Other (please specify)

 

10A.13                 Maximum Speed of Connection

Enter your library’s connection speed:

• Less than 256Kbps
• 257Kbps – 768Kbps
• 769Kbps – 1.4Mbps
• 1.5Mbps
• 1.6Mbps – 3.0Mbps
• 3.1Mbps – 6.0Mbps
• 6.1Mbps – 10Mbps
• 10.1 Mbps – 100 Mbps
• 100.1 Mbps – 500 Mbps
• 500.1 Mbps – 1 Gbps
• Greater than 1 Gbps

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Deb Burton (DE)

 

In Delaware, we implement technology plans at a statewide level – thus, our state office keeps track of IT equipment, connections, et al.  However Laura, I like the way AZ breaks down the connection question into a clear, easily answerable format!  I’m curious – what other types of technology questions do you ask?  I’m interested in what other states are doing on this front.

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Patrick Bodily (ID)

 

 

Idaho appears similar to how many others have answered the question.  We ask their type of internet connection, as well as their connectivity range. Instructions for the questions are:

 

Internet Connectivity. Indicate the primary type of Internet connectivity available to the general public in the library.

a.  None
b.  Dial-up
c.  Cable
d.  Wireless
e.  DSL
f.  Municipal Network – regardless of type
g.  Dedicated Connection
h.  Satellite
i.  Frame Relay
j.  Fiber Optic
k.  Don't Know

Note: If you do not know the connection type, please make an effort to learn it from someone who does know before checking Don't Know.

 

-and-

 

Connectivity Speed: Indicate the theoretical optimum download speed available to the general public. Depending on the number of persons simultaneously using public or staff Internet computers in the library, this may not be the actual or typical download speed.

a.  Less than 128 Kbps (kilobits/second)
b.  129 Kbps – 256 Kbps
c.  257 Kbps – 768 Kbps
d.  769 Kbps – 1.4 Mbps (megabits/second)
e.  1.5 Mbps (T1)
f.  1.6 Mbps – 5.0 Mbps
g.  6.0 Mbps – 10 Mbps
h.  Greater than 10 Mbps
i.  Don't Know

Note: If you do not know the connection speed, please make an effort to learn it from someone who does know before checking Don't Know.

 

Hope that helps.

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Justin Grimes (IMLS)

 

You might also want to look at questions asked of community anchor institutions (including public libraries) through National Telecommunications and Information  Administration (NTIA)’s National Broadband Map data collection effort. See more here: http://broadbandmap.gov/

 

Relevant questions include:

 

• MAXADDOWN - Maximum Advertised Download Speed is the maximum download speed that a broadband provider advertises and represents the maximum download speed that the network can provide. Actual performance depends on a number of factors that may include your computer, network congestion due to other users, and the location of your home or business, among others.
• MAXADUP - Maximum Advertised Upload Speed is the maximum upload speed that a broadband provider advertises and represents the maximum upload speed that the network can provide. Actual performance depends on a number of factors that may include your computer, network congestion due to other users, and the location of your home or business, among others.
• TRANSTECH - The technology use to provide internet access service to the community anchor institution.
• BBSERVICE - Does institution subscribe to broadband service at location (ex. Y=Yes; N=No; U=Unknown)
• PUBLICWIFI - Whether or not they offer free wifi to the public (ex. Y=Yes; N=No; I or U=Unknown)

 

###########TransTech###########

Code     Description

10           Asymmetric xDSL

20           Symmetric xDSL

30           Other Copper Wire

40           Cable Modem - DOCSIS 3.0 Down

41           Cable Model - Other

50           Optical Carrier/Fiber to the End User

60           Satellite

70           Terrestrial Fixed - Unlicensed

71           Terrestrial Fixed - Licensed

80           Terrestrial Mobile Wireless

90           Electric Power Line

0              All Other

 

###########MaxAdDown###########

Code     Description

2              Greater than 200 kbps and less than 768 kbps

3              Greater than 768 kbps and less than 1.5 mbps

4              Greater than 1.5 mbps and less than 3 mbps

5              Greater than 3 mbps and less than 6 mbps

6              Greater than 6 mbps and less than 10 mbps

7              Greater than 10 mbps and less than 25 mbps

8              Greater than 25 mbps and less than 50 mbps

9              Greater than 50 mbps and less than 100 mbps

10           Greater than 100 mbps and less than 1 gbps

11           Greater than 1 gbps

 

###########MaxAdUp###########

Code     Description

2              Greater than 200 kbps and less than 768 kbps

3              Greater than 768 kbps and less than 1.5 mbps

4              Greater than 1.5 mbps and less than 3 mbps

5              Greater than 3 mbps and less than 6 mbps

6              Greater than 6 mbps and less than 10 mbps

7              Greater than 10 mbps and less than 25 mbps

8              Greater than 25 mbps and less than 50 mbps

9              Greater than 50 mbps and less than 100 mbps

10           Greater than 100 mbps and less than 1 gbps

11           Greater than 1 gbps

 

Couple of additional thoughts:

1. If you aren’t doing speed tests then you’ll probably want to ask for “maximum advertised speed” (maximum advertised speed is the terminology commonly used to described theoretical maximum speed subscribed to.
2. Broadband “speed” is composed of two parts: upload and download; if you can you should always try to ask these separately since they are independent of each other (i.e. there is technically no single speed answer)
3. If you are interested in comparing speeds to other entities you’ll want to make sure your categorical speed ranges are identical to how others ask. NTIA speeds categories are pretty standard. I think the Digital Inclusion Survey now uses these ranges. Varying categorical ranges makes it difficult to compare with others.
4. Speed tests are complicated because you’ll need to do multiple measurements for any actual validity (while also standardizing the design of the instrument; including ping, jitter, and other metadata associated with the test results); basically speed tests are pretty complicated to do correctly; if you can’t it’s better to just asked for maximum advertised download and upload speed;
5. When asking the library the type of transmission technology used you might want to word the question so that they understand it’s the broadband service provided to the library and not the service used within the library (e.g. internal wiring).

 

Hope this helps.

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