Connected Tahoe is bringing gigabit-level service to the entire Basin by collaborating with local providers, jurisdictions, the California Public Utilities Commission, and communities to find the most economically, environmentally, and fiscally solvent solutions for our region. We are working to facilitate broadband infrastructure projects in problem areas throughout the Basin. This is being done by working with the CPUC to identify Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that are ready, able, and willing to provide the infrastructure through our push for a Basin-wide “dig once policy” and by ensuring that broadband infrastructure is included in any and all planning efforts in Lake Tahoe.
Access to fast, reliable, and affordable Broadband internet and cell service is critical for our local businesses, students, remote workers, and visitors. Without adequate service, there is no way for people to reliably receive emergency alerts during peak season, work from home, receive telehealthcare, or establish a business that needs the internet to operate successfully. Unfortunately, within the Basin, there are still many areas that don’t have access to reliable internet, cell service or deal with outages due to inclement weather or too many visitors in town.
The Tahoe Prosperity Center is continuously conducting speed tests to determine Tahoe’s biggest gaps in high-speed internet service, and we need your help! The more tests local residents do, the more we can understand which neighborhoods and communities need assistance. Try to do speed tests during different times of the day so that we can get a complete understanding of what your speeds are on average – it only takes a minute. Run your speed test now by clicking on the “GO” button below.
Within the Tahoe Basin, underserved areas have download speeds under 6 Mbps and 1.5 Mbps upload speed, per the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) definition of minimum speeds. The average broadband speeds in San Francisco are 75.92 Mbps down and 25.70 Mbps up.
The Tahoe Prosperity Center has completed a Tahoe Basin Broadband Feasibility Study funded by a US Economic Development Administration grant. There are multiple ways to improve broadband connectivity and speed in the region, which are detailed in this report: