Third Round Results Show Verizon making Huge Strides

We are putting the finishing touches on our mobile white paper, "Measuring Mobile Broadband in California," and are finding that Verizon is making huge strides in covering the state in mobile broadband. As of April, when we last conducted broadband tests, we found Verizon making huge improvements, particularly in rural and tribal areas. Our statistical analysis suggests that Verizon may have covered 90 percent of the state's population in mobile broadband at served speeds of least 6 Mb/s downstream and 1.5 Mb/s upstream. What will happen when our testers return to California backroads this October for a fourth round of tests? We are looking forward to seeing the results.

Next California Broadband Council meeting is August 12

The next meeting of the California Broadband Council will be in Sacramento on August 12. The Council will be discussing recycling computers, installing wireless equipment on public buildings, and enhancing computer literacy and broadband adoption.

Monday, August 12, 2013
1:00-3:00 pm
Legislative Office Building (“LOB”)
1020 N  Street, Room 100
Sacramento

3rd Round (Spring 2013) Mobile Field Test Results Now Available

We just published the results from the Spring 2013 mobile field testing, done in April this year. Go to the CPUC web site to download the Excel spreadsheet.

Here's the link:
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Information+for+providing+service/Broadband+Availability+Maps.htm

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Mobile Broadband Drive-Test Project

Beginning May 2012 and every six months through 2014, the CPUC will be sending teams to drive around the state and measure the actual mobile broadband service of the big four providers, both with smartphones and laptop data cards.  We’re testing at the same designated 1200 points for each test.  These results will help determine the areas of the state that are un-served or under-served by broadband service, and thus eligible for CASF and various federal broadband infrastructure grants and subsidies. Our results will also demonstrate the extent to which mobile broadband service is a substitute for wired service.

• Spring 2013 Mobile Broadband Field Testing Summarized Results

Over 1,500 tests performed and 4 new overseas locations added!

Yesterday marked the 1,500th test performed on CalSPEED. We were happy also to see four new overseas locations where testing is being done. They are Bankok, Thailand, Mallorca, Spain, Newcastle, U.K., and Pradesh, India.

CalSPEED now on CTA's mobile gallery

CalSPEED is now listed on the mobile gallery of the California Technology Agency. Visit http://www.ca.gov/Mobile/index.html, or go to Google Play and search for "CalSPEED."

Sneak Peek of the iPhone mobile broadband viewer app

We have received lots of feedback about the usability (or lack thereof) of our California Interactive Broadband Map. In an effort to make broadband information more user-friendly and easier to see, we are developing a simplified user interface. The first release of this simplified user interface is planned for the iPhone. Later releases will include Android and standard PC/Mac internet browswers.

Here is a sneak peek at a beta version of the mobile viewer app on iPhone:

1. Select a location by tapping it on the map.

2. Results for providers at that location appear in bar format.

CalSPEED Rel 1.1 Preview

Here is a preview of the enhancements to CalSPEED. We plan to have the new release available near middle to end of June.










Click "Results" at the bottom right









History of previous tests appears

Select one of the test results and see the details.