BETHEL — Thanks to everyone who has responded to the online or paper survey sent to all residents in Albany, Bethel, Greenwood, Milton, Newry, and Woodstock to help the Mahoosuc Community Broadband Committee evaluate different approaches to improving internet service for area residents and businesses.

The Committee was asked a year ago to develop recommendations for achieving the shared goal of high-speed, affordable, reliable, and future-ready internet service for all residents. The current survey, focusing on issues of choice and local control, is the second to be circulated by the Committee as part of its work. Input collected from area residents will be one of the many factors guiding final recommendations to Mahoosuc area communities.

To date, more than 430 residents have filled out the survey. It’s not too late to share your thoughts about your internet service and what you think is the best approach to improve and expand broadband in the region. Go to tinyurl.com/3fex2rpr and fill in the Google form/survey.

Following are highlights of the survey results:
•  Choice and Competition. The majority of survey respondents (71.1%) said they prefer having more than one choice of internet service provider. Eighteen percent (18.6%) prefer that existing internet service providers expand their service, and 10.3% have no preference.
• Control and Responsibility. Fifty-three (53%.2) prefer that there is more local control and responsibility. Twenty-seven percent (27.1%) prefer that private internet service providers have control and responsibility, and 19.5% have no preference.
• Investing state and federal grant funding. Forty-four percent (44.3%) of respondents prefer investing grant dollars in a locally owned and controlled asset. Thirty percent (30.3%) prefer investing in the expansion of a private internet service provider, and 25.5% have no preference.
• Who filled out the survey? So far 56.3% of respondents are year-round residents and 43.7% are seasonal residents.
• Internet service providers. The majority of respondents (51.4%) have Charter/Spectrum internet service, 29.6% have FirstLight DSL internet service and 13% have FirstLight fiber internet service. A small number of respondents have satellite or fixed wireless service.
• Cost of internet service. The majority of respondents (44%) pay $61-$100 per month for their internet service, 33.3% pay $31-$60 per month, and 12.5% pay $101-$150 per month.
• Satisfaction with internet service. Only 22% of respondents are “very satisfied” with their internet service. Roughly half of respondents (49.7%) are “somewhat satisfied” and 28.3% are “unsatisfied” with their service.
• Comments from Survey respondents. The cost and speeds of internet service were the two consistent concerns voiced by survey respondents. This comment sums up respondents’ thoughts: “We need affordable, faster internet asap. Doesn’t matter who or how.”