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How Fast Does The Internet Need To Be In Montana To Be Competitive? What Do You Think?
MATR is curious to know what speeds Montana current and future businesses need in order to be competitive. While we’d all like to have super fast internet, it’s not feasible in all parts of Montana due to cost and distance.
That being said, there are certain levels that businesses need and that are the minimum acceptable to those companies that may want to locate here as well as remote workers who are interested in moving to Montana.
Please let us know what you think you’d like to see in your community as well as rural areas between communities.
Montana can’t state competitive as a desirable location if we don’t have the basics available which definitely includes reasonably priced and a consistent minimum download and upload speed Internet.
Please send your thoughts to me (Russ @ MATR . Net or call me 406-531-8119) and we’ll post the results and share them with the MEDA Next Generation Broadband Committee as well as MATR subscribers.
We’re In This Together.
Thanks,
Russ
1 Comment
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Here are the comments we’ve received regarding Internet speeds in Montana. Additional comments will be added. You can post your comments here as well.
> 25/3 perhaps for rural. Out in the sticks.
> Get a Starlink system for them and forget the 10 year fiber plowing program!
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There was a bit of discussion on yesterday’s broadband committee call about the minimum internet speeds required for different activities. I think the following may help:
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/broadband-speed-guide
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My opinion is that speeds should be 100×100 symmetrical as a starting point and then up from there based on the use, need and affordability of the client. Anything less maintains the status quo and sets the bar too low to be competitive in the region, around the country and the globe.
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I pay Spectrum for 100 mbps at home in Billings with upload speed of 10 mbps for 74.99/mo @ a bundled discount for TV & Internet of $15. Today download is 86.35 and upload is 10.92. I would prefer 200 mbps. My son and his wife pay for the next speed up, 300-400 mbps. And we are not gamers or heavy users with multiple devices.
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100 mg service is the bare minimum, and that should be what we aspire and aim for, knowing its not doable in every situation. And the FCC chart is bad. It simply is not accurate to real life. Just my home example is what my son was back this spring and we were all “on” my 60mg service was just barely able to handle modest home use with 4 people all doing stuff simultaneously.
This would mean that we would not declare a town with 25mg service “done” or “has broadband access” because we would be aiming for higher levels of service before declaring it a success.
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