The California Public Utilities Commission is leading a study into home Internet speeds — the first state to take on its own Internet testing to resolve this issue — and it's looking for volunteers.
The CPUC is joined in the volunteer campaign by the Geographical Information Center (GIC) at California State University, Chico; and CSU Monterey Bay. The study, called CalSPEED Home, will use data gathered from volunteers to provide crucial information to state policymakers in addition to providing money-saving information to consumers.
“Volunteers will be asked to attach a small device to their home Internet router for a two-week period, during which speed and quality tests will be performed,” CPUC explains in a news release. “The study will not monitor volunteers’ Internet use in any way, and volunteers will have access to their own testing results. The first phase of the study will determine whether some technologies are better than others in their ability to deliver promised speeds and analyze whether the home’s Wi-Fi network is the culprit slowing down the service for which the customer is paying. So, whether a customer is receiving service from a telephone, cable, fiber, wireless, or satellite company, the CPUC seeks their help to arrive at meaningful results.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can sign up by going to www.calspeed.net and completing a survey. Participants will be chosen in accordance with the sampling plan to ensure a statistically significant distribution of the devices. Devices will be shipped to eligible volunteers after selection.
Potential volunteers seeking information on participating in CalSPEED Home should contact CalSPEED Support at support@calspeed.net.
