Survey

results 

 

 

 

 


Survey phase completed... 



 

Household and Small Business Survey Results

The Connecting Cumberland Broadband Survey was mailed out in early April to approximately 3,500 residences and businesses in the target communities. Residents and business owners were asked to complete the survey and return to CREDA by April 16th. Several options were provided for return of the surveys: regular mail, fax, community drop-off locations, or complete and submit the survey online.

 Overall response rate: 9.4%

Number of surveys completed & submitted: 328

This positive response rate was much higher than general surveys indicating a strong interest in the Connecting Cumberland broadband project. 

Residential Internet Usage Characteristics 

  • 84% of respondents currently have email

  • 98% have at least one household computer

  • 96% have Internet access (only two of the 328 respondents use a satellite-based ISP)

  • 59% of respondents use a CAP site, library or some other location for High Speed Internet access

  • 88% of respondents currently use the Internet more than 10 times per month

 Home-Based Business Internet Usage Characteristics

  • 30% of respondents have a home-based business that consumes at least 5 hours of their time each week

  • 15% of the businesses offer some form of service while 70% offer both product(s) and service(s)

  • 14% of the home-based businesses are in the tourism sector

  • 16% of the home-based businesses have a web site

  •  44% have a business email address

  • 28% are using the Internet to purchase or sell their products/services (higher than the national average)

 Small Businesses/Institutions Highlights:

  • 29% of respondents have a web site for their business

  • 90% of respondents have Internet access for their business

  • Only one firm is using high speed Internet (Bell ExpressVu High Speed satellite service)

  • Of those organizations with Internet access, 85% use Aliant’s Sympatico service for small business

  •  47% have a second line for their Internet connection while 53% use their main business line

  • Over 50% of the organizations have only one computer with an Internet connection

  • 34% have 2 or more computers with an Internet connection

  • 14% have no Internet connected computers

  •  The charges paid for Internet connection average approximately $30 per PC connected

Commitment to Purchase High Speed Internet Service

 The survey asked the following question:

Based on the current residential broadband prices customers in Amherst and Halifax are paying, I would purchase broadband services for my household. Regular monthly service fee: $39.95 - $ 44.95 (new customers usually receive discount for first 3 - 6 months).

Installation cost (one-time fee): $0 - $99 (discounted rates are often offered to new customers or self-installation kits, etc.). All rates listed above are before applicable taxes.

Please note: this is not a legally binding contract, merely an expression of interest.

Based on this question, 96% of respondents (less than 2% did not answer this question) indicated they would be willing to pay the setup and monthly fee structure for broadband Internet service.

The survey also asked for a length of commitment to purchase a broadband service at the fee structure shown.

·         34% indicated they would commit to at least 1-2 years

·         55% indicated they would commit for 3 years
 


 

For more information about the Connecting Cumberland project, please contact:

Paul Hopper
Development Field Officer
Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association
902-667-3638

 

 


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