GRAND RAPIDS–Kent County is asking residents and businesses to take a 15-question survey about internet service at their households and locations. The survey asks whether high-speed internet service is available at a given address, and if so, at what speed and cost.
The goal is to gain a clearer picture of connectivity in Kent County and support planning and possible broadband expansion efforts, including grant applications.
Over the past two years, the need for broadband has become more evident, with residents teleworking, students attending school online and patients meeting doctors virtually. The Kent County Broadband Policy Committee knows many of our residents and businesses experience frustration over Internet connectivity. In some areas, high-speed Internet is unreliable or simply not available.
High-speed internet connectivity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was viewed by many as a luxury. Now though, it is a necessity, similar to electricity and clean water. The Kent County Broadband Policy Committee recognizes this and is committed to surveying residents and businesses to identify gaps in Internet service. To accomplish this, Kent County is partnering with Merit Network to develop a survey and marketing materials aimed at reaching all properties in Kent County.
Merit Network, Michigan’s oldest internet service provider, established in 1966 by the state’s three biggest research universities, is conducting the survey as part of its Michigan Moonshot initiative.
Visit MichiganMoonshot.org/Kent to complete the brief survey. Paper surveys are available upon request by calling (616) 632-6512.
The Michigan Moonshot is a collective call to action which aims to bridge the digital divide in Michigan. Stakeholders include Merit Network, the Quello Center at Michigan State University, and M-Lab, the largest open Internet measurement platform in the world. Learn more about the Michigan Moonshot at Merit.edu/Moonshot.
