If COVID has taught us anything, it has taught us the importance of universal broadband across Durham County. Whether it be for virtual learning, or whether it be for telehealth or business opportunities, or just quality of life, it is very important that we have universal broadband throughout Durham County.  It is now as essential to have broadband as it is to have water, sewer, electricity and natural gas for a modern business and community. 

Broadband contributes to a thriving economy, allows employees to further their digital skills, and helps students achieve new merits.  With innumerable benefits, broadband expansion is a priority for the State of North Carolina as articulated by our Governor and certainly for Durham County. Gov. Roy Cooper has a plan to close the digital divide to achieve digital equity for all North Carolinians. 

Durham County Government is committed to working with the State of North Carolina and the Division of Broadband and Digital Equity to secure broadband opportunities for our County. This process starts with gathering information on locations in the County without adequate internet access and speeds.  Help Durham County work with the State of North Carolina to bring broadband to ALL of Durham County by filling out the North Carolina Broadband Survey. 

En Español

The North Carolina Broadband Survey is designed to gather information on locations in the state without adequate internet access and speeds.

The information gathered from the survey will:

• Provide clear data to guide investment of funds through the state’s Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grant program
• Inform research and policy recommendations
• Support strategic targeting of additional funding streams

The survey is a collaboration between the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Broadband Infrastructure Office and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovationat NC State University.

Taking the Survey

The survey takes about five minutes to complete and is available in both English and Spanish. Participants are encouraged to also take the optional internet speed test to connect survey data with broadband speed information.

For Homes & Businesses with Internet Service

For homes or businesses with internet service, participants should take the survey online from the location being reported, ideally from a wired connection. This will allow the speed test and other survey data to be tied to the exact location.

Take the Survey

For Homes & Businesses without Internet Service

To report locations without internet service, participants can take the survey by phone. Residents without internet service but with phones capable of text messaging can text “internet” to 919-750-0553. Standard text messaging rates will apply.

Can't Text?

Residents with landlines or cellphones that do not have texting capability may place a voice call to 919-750-0553. An interactive voice response system will guide them through a series of short questions to obtain the caller’s address and register it in the database as having no internet capability at all.

Other Ways to Take Action

Find out more about how you, your community group or your organization can help promote the North Carolina Broadband Survey by contacting the Broadband Infrastructure Office. Someone will contact you with more information on how to help.

Or check out the North Carolina Broadband Survey Outreach Guide, as well as supporting materials in both English and Spanish, to help get you started.