Speed tests measure download speed, upload speed, latency (ping), jitter, and packet loss to determine internet performance. Individuals and communities use speed tests to check that their internet speeds match what they pay for, provide evidence for grants or challenges to infrastructure maps, and understand overall network quality in an area. While internet providers argue that many factors could affect speeds, community speed tests are still useful if done with good instructions, marketing, mapping of data by provider and location, and by sharing results with stakeholders.

1. SpeedTests
What, Why, How

2. What do speed tests measure?
• Download speed
• Upload speed
• Latency (ping)
• Jitter
• Packet loss

3. Uses of Speed Tests
• Individual
• Am I getting what I am paying for?
• Am I cool?
• Community
• Are we getting what we are paying for?
• What are we getting?
• Where are we getting it?
• Evidence for grant applications and map challenges

4. Objections to Speed Tests
Provider Objections (all of which can be true)
• Customers are all buying the
slower packages
• Old customer routers and wi-fi
access points
• Old customer computers
• Customer wiring
• Multiple users on network at
time of speed test
Response
• Should up to 7 Mb Internet
services even be sold?
• Many people use router
provided by ISP
• Yes
• True, but
• Is this a faulty installation?
• Most folks use Wi-Fi
• Might be true

5. Community Speed Test Best Practices
• Good instructions
• Great marketing via schools, community organizations
• GIS mapping tools
• Data by provider
• Data by zip code or school district or census block
• Effective comparison to FCC 477 maps
• Share data with
• Incumbent providers
• Prospective competitive providers
• Elected officials
• FCC
• State officials – AG, DOC
• Community via social media, newspapers, etc.