Guilford County Broadband Study
Guilford County Broadband Study
Study Overview
Guilford County has received over $104 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. One of the eligible uses for these funds is broadband infrastructure. This broadband study will help the County understand the broadband gaps and opportunities. This includes broadband infrastructure, speeds, and cost. Guidehouse and Public Participation Partners are partnering with Guilford County Government to complete this study.
Goals
The goals of this study are to:
- Develop a strategy to address insufficient high-speed internet in parts of the county
- Build a coalition of county staff, citizens, businesses, and organizations
- Make the case for investment to help the county maximize future funding opportunities
Study Timeline
This study began in October 2021 and will conclude in February 2022. There will be three phases, listed below:
- Phase 1: Data gathering and stakeholder engagement preparation (October – November 2021)
- Phase 2: Gaps and opportunities assessment (November 2021 – January 2022)
- Phase 3: Report writing and presentation (January – February 2022)
Community Engagement Opportunities
North Carolina Broadband Survey (click to participate)
The North Carolina Broadband Survey is designed to gather information on locations in the state without adequate internet access and speeds.
Community Engagement Results
Focus Groups
Our project team conducted six focus group meetings. These meetings aimed to gather a more in-depth perspective on broadband needs. View the full Meeting and Comment Summary for the full details.
Strategic Approach Focus Groups
Our project team conducted five additional Strategic Approach focus group meetings. These meetings aimed to get stakeholder input on outcomes and priorities of the Plan. They took place January 19-26, 2022.
Public Meetings and Survey
In January, we hosted five in-person public meetings throughout Guilford County. One of these meetings livestreamed on Guilford County’s Facebook page. View the meeting recording.
The Internet and Device Access Survey was live from December 15, 2021 through January 21, 2022. During this time, over 300 Guilford County community members took the survey.
Check back soon for the full Meeting and Comment Summary.