Here is the link to join the Zoom meeting to review the findings of the survey and to discuss next steps.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82969982645?pwd=MWZPSS9tM2tzVCs4Q0QzSlBwZk1SZz09
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82969982645?pwd=MWZPSS9tM2tzVCs4Q0QzSlBwZk1SZz09
Meeting ID: 829 6998 2645; Passcode: 514213
Dial by your location (929) 205-6099
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Many of the Town's residents responded to the survey that was recently sent out by the Town’s Economic Development Commission. This survey was intended to get an idea of how folks feel about their current internet and to determine future needs or actions to improve service in town.
Many of the Town's residents responded to the survey that was recently sent out by the Town’s Economic Development Commission. This survey was intended to get an idea of how folks feel about their current internet and to determine future needs or actions to improve service in town.
We received responses from over 200 participants (out of 1400 households in town). A summary of the responses is below and we will also hold a Zoom virtual meeting to discuss these findings and future consideration in more detail. That meeting will be on December 2nd at 7:00.
o Most respondents (over 70%) use the internet for high-bandwidth uses:
- Streaming video
- Video conferencing
- Streaming music
o Faster internet connections will improve the audio/video quality and buffering times of these types of applications.
o 45% of respondents are currently dissatisfied with their internet performance, and 49% are dissatisfied with their internet choices so would like additional options.
o 75% use the internet in Barkhamsted for work and 93% of these would like a faster/more reliable connection for their work.
o We have a lot of people who work interesting remote jobs from town that push a lot of data and need a fast/reliable internet connection including:
- Videographer
- Work from home software developers
- IT professionals
- Telehealth providers
- Lots of office workers working from home
It appears that the current trend is for city-based office workers to move to more rural areas like ours, but it’s critical for them to have a really good reliable internet connection. If we can provide that, it will increase our property values compared to towns that don’t have good connectivity.
We will post the link to the meeting next week, so that any resident who wishes to participate is able to join in.
I look forward to seeing you at the Zoom meeting. If you have any questions, please email me at dstein@barkhamsted.us.
Don Stein
First Selectman
Don Stein
First Selectman