Broadband Internet and Cellular Data Network Assessment

Overview
Components
Key Findings
Recommendations

Overview

Access to fast and reliable internet is essential for vibrant communities, enabling work, learning, and engagement through devices like cell phones, tablets, and computers. High-speed broadband is crucial for households, businesses, and institutions across Cape Cod, making it a key priority for economic development and community planning.

As essential services continue to be offered virtually, maintaining a robust internet network is critical. The Regional Broadband Needs Assessment Summary and Report presents key finding and recommendations to support an understanding the current broadband landscape and inform decision-making on opportunities to improve broadband infrastructure and address digital equity challenges.

Set of images of people using Internet-connected devices including smartphones, tablets and laptop computers.

Key Components

The Summary and Report include a presentation and analysis of:

Quantitative and qualitative data on fixed broadband (cable, fiber, DSL, and fixed wireless services) and mobile service availability, as well as gaps or deficiencies in these services
Challenges with respect to affordability, digital skills, digital literacy, and device access as determined from a survey conducted as part of this project, Commission staff observations, and additional data
Information and perspective on recent and evolving market developments that may lead to fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) deployments
Information on how municipalities can pursue and leverage deployment of FTTP through a variety of approaches, the levels of risk and control involved, and recommendations based on the data.

Key Findings

Below are highlights of the key findings from the Summary which are presented in more detail in the Report.

Cape Cod has nearly ubiquitous broadband service with the FCC reporting that 99.57% of addresses have access to broadband services with advertised speeds above 100/20 Mbps. There is very little competition for high-speed service, with 99.5% of residential and business addresses served by Comcast. The lack of competition results in the highest internet prices in the Commonwealth and significant issues with internet affordability.

Verizon’s residential fiber service is currently limited to parts of Bourne, but Verizon received a state grant to address service gaps in seven Cape towns, and Yarmouth, indicating potential plans for broader fiber deployment. For larger businesses and enterprise customers, competitive fiber providers including OpenCape and Comcast Business are available.

Approximately

39%

of survey respondents reported experiencing slowdowns or drops at least one or more times per week

Approximately

69%

of survey respondents who were not “very satisfied” reported that their service was too expensive

Survey responses indicate that Residents are concerned with the speed, quality, and cost of available cable broadband service. Similarly, large numbers of residents report problems with mobile voice and data services. Consistent with anecdotal accounts, speed tests show that Cape Cod experiences considerable seasonal degradation of fixed and mobile broadband service.

Barnstable County's towns, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and community organizations have made key efforts to improve broadband, including establishing fiber connectivity in downtown zones though OpenCape, forming task forces, securing municipal grants, and in Falmouth, establishing a public entity to explore municipal broadband options.

Beyond broadband access and affordability, significant barriers exist for segments of the population related to computing devices and internet skills. In particular, challenges were noted for aging, immigrant, and low-income populations.

pproximately 14,400 households lack a desktop or laptop computer. AND Roughly 3,900 households rely on smartphones as their only device to access to the internet.

Just over one-half of those who live alone are very confident in accessing medical resources or government services online, compared with at least three-fourths of other respondents. CHART: Communicating with Social Media: Single-member households- 44%, Multi-member households- 74%; Accessing Medical Resources: Single-member households- 52%, Multi-member households- 76%; Accessing Governmental Services: Single-member households- 54%, Multi-member households- 78%.

Summary of Recommendations

The Summary and Report outline 14 recommendations that address needs and opportunities identified across three broad categories: fiber and fixed broadband infrastructure, mobile network enhancements, and advancing digital equity on Cape Cod. The recommendations offer strategic approaches for municipal and regional leaders and other stakeholders to enact across Cape Cod.

Fiber/fixed broadband infrastructure recommendations encourage increased internet service provider options and fiber rollout across Cape Cod, and emphasize the importance of robust fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) deployments, leveraging municipal needs for infrastructure development.
Mobile service recommendations focus on enhancing mobile network coverage to address service gaps and collaborating to gather high-quality mobile service data to develop solutions with mobile service providers.
Digital equity recommendations provide collaborative solutions to close the digital divide beyond connectivity challenges, focusing on efforts that build local and regional capacity for equitable connectivity, device access, and digital skills.

CATEGORY	RECOMMENDATIONS
FIBER/FIXED BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE	Pursue the development of FTTP deployments through one of four broad categories of business models that differ regarding the role that Towns or partners play Facilitate construction to encourage and reduce costs of deployment, regardless of model or how the project came about Seek to leverage deployments to obtain fiber for current and future municipal needs, such as connectivity to municipal buildings, backhaul for public safety radios, and traffic or security cameras
MOBILE SERVICE	Implement a rigorous and repeatable drive-test data collection process that measures signal strength on all Cape Cod roadways at a granular level Perform mobile broadband “walk tests” to measure signal strength in critical non- driving areas Create a vertical asset database for areas surrounding identified coverage gaps Use data collected and proactive posture to encourage collaborative solutions with mobile wireless carriers
DIGITAL EQUITY	Form a countywide Digital Equity Coalition and convene annual or biannual meetings to harmonize efforts and support outreach to funders Consider augmenting state and federal digital equity funds with a regional grant program Help pursue funding to Community TV stations to support digital skills programs Promote digital navigator programs enhancing telehealth and other digital skills, such as those available through community health centers across Cape Cod Facilitate the partnership between device provision entities with interested local community organizations on the Cape Consider establishing a regional call center to assist in connecting residents with technical support resources and supporting enrollment in current or future broadband subsidy or low-cost programs Consider approaches for connectivity in housing authority buildings—including procuring services from existing providers (a single-payer approach) or state programs to provide potential capital and operating support for Wi-Fi and for affordable housing wiring retrofits

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Fixed and Mobile Broadband Needs Assessment Prepared for Barnstable County by CTC Technologies and Energy and Rural Innovation Solutions, Inc. Summary overview prepared by Cape Cod Commission staff. Funding provided by Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through Barnstable County.

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