Beaver County Infrastructure Connectivity Project

Connecting Beaver County

The Beaver County Office of Planning and Redevelopment is taking steps to ensure that all residents and businesses in Beaver County can connect to high speed, affordable internet. Working together with countywide and regional agencies, Beaver County is seeking to bridge the Digital Divide to ensure both urban and rural communities are properly connected.

Our primary effort for 2021 is to identify gap areas in Beaver County for future infrastructure expansion and ensuring digital inclusion for all citizens, providing the access and effective use of technology necessary to participate in modern society. Broadband access, adoption, and digital equity studies are ongoing and will result in resilient and competitive communities.

The FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary FCC program to help households struggling to afford internet service during the pandemic. The FCC is mobilizing people and organizations to help raise awareness about the Emergency Broadband Benefit.

This benefit provides:

Up to $50/month discount for broadband service;
A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider.

To learn more about the program or to become a partner visit www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.
To see if you qualify and to apply, please call 833-511-0311, or visit www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit or www.GetEmergencyBroadband.org.

See the next slide to download information about the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.

Source: FCC

Infographic

Download the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Infographic

Fact Sheet

Download the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Fact Sheet

Handout

Download the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Handout

Source: FCC

Broadband Technology

What is Broadband?

Broadband or high-speed Internet access allows users to access the Internet and Internet-related services at significantly higher speeds than those available through "dial-up" services.

Source: FCC

What is Fixed Broadband?

These are technologies that enter a household, business, or community anchor institution through a modem, such as Fiber, Cable, DSL, Fixed Wireless, or Satellite.

Source: FCC

What is Mobile Broadband?

These are wireless technologies that typically service mobile phones and tablets via cellular transmission from providers such as
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Source: FCC

How is Broadband Speed measured?

Broadband is measured in Megabits per Second (Mbps). The current FCC definition of Broadband is 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.

Source: FCC

What is Download Speed?

Download speed refers to how many megabits of data per second it takes to consume information such as text, files, and media.

What is Upload Speed?

Upload speed refers to how many megabits of data per second it takes to send information. Ever been on a Zoom call and the other person is pixelated? They likely have slow upload speeds.

Broadband Access vs Adoption

What is Broadband Access?

Broadband Access denotes that a homeowner, business, or community anchor institution can connect to high speed internet via an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Source: FCC

What is Broadband Adoption?

Broadband Adoption is the percentage of the population that subscribes to broadband service. For more information, please review the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Adoption Resources.

Beaver County Broadband Access

The FCC estimates that over 98% of households in Beaver County have access to broadband. Beaver County is refining this data at the local level to understand the current picture of broadband within the County.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

Beaver County Broadband Adoption

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 1 in every 5 households in Beaver County do not have a broadband internet subscription.

Source: American Community Survey

Please Note: Have you already taken the Broadband Survey but want to test your internet speed again? Click “GO” below to run as many speed tests as you’d like. Please try the survey during different hours of the day or with multiple devices in use.

Connecting Beaver County

The FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

Broadband Technology

Broadband Access vs Adoption

Please Note: Have you already taken the Broadband Survey but want to test your internet speed again? Click “GO” below to run as many speed tests as you’d like. Please try the survey during different hours of the day or with multiple devices in use.

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