Today is the deadline to complete the Kentucky Broadband Speed Test, a project that will gather data needed to expand internet home access for distance learning, telework and telehealth. 

The free, anonymous speed test can be accessed by clicking here, and it takes about 30 seconds complete.

To participate, the device must be connected to a person’s home Wi-Fi service and disconnected from a virtual private network (VPN) that may be connected to a workplace or school. For the most accurate results, ensure that no one else connected to the home internet is using a substantial portion of the internet bandwidth for activities such as streaming video or gaming during the test.

Individuals without Wi-Fi access in their home can visit their local library or other locations such as stores or restaurants that offer free internet access to submit the address of a home with no available service.

“We need as many Kentuckians as possible to take this internet speed test, to get an accurate picture of who has adequate internet access across the state,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “The more speed tests taken, the better understanding we will have of our state’s internet capabilities, and the better prepared we will be to repair and expand it.”

This initiative comes after the Beshear-Coleman Administration first dedicated $8 million in CARES Act funding to broadband expansion in August 2020. Since then, Kentucky has reduced the number of students without internet access from 35,000 to 13,000. The speed test marks the second step in the state’s initiative to build a better Kentucky for everyone through expanded broadband access.