Whiteside residents asked to take survey to assess county’s internet speeds, needs

MORRISON – As Whiteside County prepares to bring fiber broadband internet access to all its residents, officials are asking them to take a survey to help determine what internet speeds are at various locations throughout the county, and to define what it is residents want in an internet service.

Responses will help ConnectWhiteside.org, the county’s 17-member planning committee, assess their internet needs.

The survey is available in English at connectwhiteside.org/survey and in Spanish at conecterwhiteside.org/encuesta, and on paper in both languages for those with no internet or poor internet service.

Residents have until the end of the business day on April 29 to complete the survey, which takes only a few minutes.

It will ask you to test your computer’s speed, and provide a link to do so, and also will ask things such as who is your internet provider, what do you pay for internet and what do you use the internet for the most (streaming movies or music, schoolwork, attending virtual events, etc.).

Paper surveys are available:

• At Fulton City Hall, 415 11th Ave.

• At Henry C. Adams Memorial Library, 209W Third St., Prophetstown.

• In Morrison at Odell Library, 307 S Madison St; St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 601 N. Jackson St; and at the Whiteside County Courthouse, 200E Knox St. (use the Cherry Street entrance).

• In Rock Falls at the Rock Falls Library, 1007 Seventh Ave.; Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce, 601 W. 10th St.; Whiteside Area Housing Authority, 401 W. 18th St.; Tri-County Opportunities Council, 405 Emmons Ave.; Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, 309 First Ave.; and the Whiteside County Community Health Clinic, 1300 W. Second St.

• In Sterling at the Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W Nonth St; Illinois Extension Office, 12923 Lawrence Road; La Laguna, 301 Ave. G; El Vaquero, 1219 W. Fourth St.; Sterling Public Library, 102 W. Third St.; Whiteside County Courthouse, 101 E. Third St.; Whiteside Area Career Center, 1608 Fifth Ave.; and Sterling Rock Falls YMCA, 2505 Ave. E.

• At Sauk Valley Community College, 173 state Route 2.

You must be 18 or older or have the permission of your legal guardian to participate.

Go to connectwhiteside.org, or contact Whiteside County Administrator Joel Horn at WCAdmin@whiteside.org, 200 E Knox St., Morrison, IL 61270, or 815-772-5100 for more information.