The Concho Valley Council of Governments, also known as CVCOG, is working with the firms CobbFendley and GrantWorks to complete a comprehensive analysis of all the region’s Internet resources. Citizens are being asked to complete an online survey so CVCOG can better understand internet access and the needs of its communities. The survey will also include a speed test to identify real-time speeds of Internet service for Concho Valley residents. As more people complete the survey and speed test, it will provide a better understanding to CVCOG of its strengths and weaknesses for internet coverage. This data will help the counties and COG potentially secure funding for broadband developments. A Business focused set of survey questions follows the Residential portion of the survey. Please only fill this out if you represent a business within the region.

Please take the Broadband Survey and Speed Test located here:

Survey – English
Encuesta – Spanish

GOAL: CVCOG Officials want to have strong, high-speed Internet access for all their residents. Based on raw census data and comparisons of other regions, thousands would benefit from available and affordable broadband. Many people within the community are either not served or are underserved, meaning that even if you have some source of internet, it might be insufficient for the needs of today’s society.

HOW: An online survey and Internet speed test will help the Concho Valley Council of Governments achieve this goal. It will help the counties potentially secure funding for broadband expansion.

PARTICIPATE: Complete a brief online survey and Internet speed test so the CVCOG can understand Internet access and needs. Be sure to complete the speed test at your home so that your home internet is the data recorded. The survey and speed test take less than five minutes to complete.

ENCOURAGE OTHERS: Forward the survey to friends and neighbors who live or do business in the CVCOG counties and rely on the Internet. The counties which make up CVCOG include Coke, Concho, Crockett, Edwards, Irion, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green. The City of San Angelo is also included.

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP):The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.

The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

ENCOURAGE OTHERS: Forward the survey to friends and neighbors who live or do business in the CVCOG counties and rely on the Internet. The counties which make up CVCOG include Coke, Concho, Crockett, Edwards, Irion, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green. The City of San Angelo is also included.

To see if you may qualify, more information can be found here: https://www.fcc.gov/acp

FCC Challenge Process: The Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) has recently developed new Broadband Availability Maps which will be utilized across the U.S. in the allocation of federal funding for broadband infrastructure deployment under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The data in these new maps are submitted by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and include specific details on the coverage and internet options offered at individual homes and businesses.

The FCC is allowing residents the opportunity to review the new Broadband Maps and see what providers have listed as existing coverage in your area. Inaccuracies in this data could lead to a loss of funding eligibility for local communities within Concho Valley Council of Governments if an area is deemed “served” when it is not. To review the data submitted for your address and assess the challenge options that may be applicable, please visit: https://broadbandMap.fcc.gov

More information on how to submit a challenge can be found here: https://help.bdc.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/10476040597787-How-to-File-an-Availability-Challenge