Truckee, CA- On January 18th, the Gold Country Broadband Consortium (GCBC), managed by Sierra Business Council, will begin a campaign effort to bring high-speed internet to those still lacking basic connectivity in areas of Sierra City, Donner Summit, Squaw Valley, and the highway 89 corridor between Tahoe City and Truckee. Working directly with local internet service providers, GCBC will be surveying residents to identify areas of need and determine the feasibility of near-term infrastructure projects.
Maps of broadband availability in the Sierra are often based on outdated or incomplete data, usually reported by internet service providers rather than residents, and they lack the one crucial piece of information necessary for bringing infrastructure to an area: demand. We know, by and large, who has high-speed internet and who doesn’t, but the questions still remain: “who really wants it, and what are they willing to pay for faster speeds?” Answering these questions will pave the way to bringing high-speed internet to the many residents of our region who have long been left out of the traditional discussions broadband providers have with their staff and investors.
We’ve chosen the areas of Sierra City, Donner Summit, and the Highway 89 corridor not just because we know that these places have been calling for better service for years, but also because local internet service providers have expressed interest in these markets. If we can prove there’s demand, we can prove that it is feasible for them to build.
GCBC will be conducting speed tests, administering surveys, and working with community leaders to assess demand, but we invite members of these communities to reach out to us directly with questions or concerns. Our new online broadband survey will be available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/GCBCsurvey as of January 18th. We welcome any additional input from members of these areas. Residents of areas outside Sierra City, Donner Summit, Olympic Valley, and the 89 corridor are still encouraged to test your broadband speed at www.SierraBusiness.org, data collected there is helping the State of California identify pockets of need.
To get in touch, please contact us at the Sierra Business Council Office in Truckee at (530) 582-4800, or email Peter Brown at pbrown@sierrabusiness.org.
Sierra Business Council (SBC) pioneers and demonstrates innovative approaches to increase community vitality, economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social fairness in the Sierra Nevada. More information on SBC’s impact can be found at www.sierrabusiness.org.
