How Fast Are You?

Millions of Americans—especially in rural and low-income urban areas—don’t have high-speed Internet access. Millions more who have, what we in America call, “high-speed” Internet pay much more for slower speeds than people in Europe or Japan.

How fast is your Internet access? How does your speed compare nationwide and around the globe? Are you getting what your Internet provider says you’re paying for?

Take the Communications Workers of America Speed Matters test to find out:

www.speedmatters.org/wfn2008

Speed Matters is a public policy and awareness campaign to invest in our nation’s high-speed networks and close the digital divide. Testing your Internet connection speed is an important part of this campaign.

Last year, Speed Matters used tens of thousands of speed tests from people like you to develop a state-by-state report on Internet connection speed. USA Today featured the findings on its front page, reporting that the United States is falling far behind other industrialized nations in high-speed Internet access.

Thanks to the first report, state broadband initiatives were developed in Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, Washington State and elsewhere. It also was used to help convince the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change its definition of high-speed Internet and to urge the U.S. Congress to adopt a national broadband policy, complete with a broadband map of America.

Speed Matters is getting ready to release its second annual speed test report this summer, and it needs as many people as possible to take the speed test.

You can help with the new report by taking the speed test:

www.speedmatters.org/wfn2008

With your help, the second report should make as big of a splash as the first one. Speed Matters is timing the release of the report with the Democratic and Republican national conventions to make sure high-speed Internet access is on both parties’ agendas.

In the 21st century, we all deserve access to quality, high-speed Internet. By taking the Speed Matters speed test, you can help make it happen.

Sincerely,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO

P.S. Speed Matters needs to collect as many speed tests as possible in order to make an impact at the Democratic and Republican conventions this summer. Tell your friends and family about the speed test by forwarding this e-mail to them.

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