Are you having problems with internet connections? One Windsor-Essex community is working toward a solution.
The Town of Tecumseh has put together a rural broadband advisory committee, which had its first meeting this week. The mission of the committee is to help Tecumseh residents improve access to the internet. Access to the internet has become a necessity since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more people working and interacting from home.
That fact has not escaped Mayor Gary McNamara, who said the issue is found not just locally, but provincially also.
"In the last 18 months, we have come to realize that reliable internet connectivity is needed throughout the province, and especially in the Town of Tecumseh, for those working and learning from home and for our businesses," said McNamara.
During the committee's first meeting, it was decided to engage residents and business owners in the process. Internet users are being asked to take a short connectivity test provided by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA). Ward 4 Councillor Brian Houston, who chairs the committee, says the testing will show where improvement must happen.
"We need to understand what areas of the town are currently underserved, and this tool will provide critical data and mapping to assist with future network expansions and securing grant funding," said Houston.
The speed test will only provide researchers with a general location and internet speed. No personal data will be collected. Residents can take the test by visiting the link on the Town of Tecumseh's official website.