Speed Tests

Test your Broadband Internet Speed

If you would like to verify that you’re getting the broadband Internet speeds that you should be getting, you can use the State or Federal speed tests to test your Internet speeds.  Both the State and the Federal tools are downloadable applications, and both compile speed test data to support the broader mission of improving broadband Internet services.  Measurement Lab’s web-based speed test provides the largest collection of open Internet performance data on the planet. As a consortium of research, industry, and public-interest partners, M-Lab provides an ecosystem for the open, verifiable measurement of global network performance.  Appealing to the more technically inclined web surfers, Cloudflare’s speed test provides quite a bit of detail with nicely presented data visualizations.

After you have tested your broadband Internet speed, we’d appreciate it if you would report your speed test results to the IMBC using the button at the bottom of this page so that we can evaluate local speed test data.

Open Speed Test

Embedded Speed test by Open Speed Test.  When you click the Start button below, this speed test will run in this window without opening a new page.

Cloudflare Web-based Speed Test

Approved by the NTIA for challenges and rebuttals as part of the BEAD program.*

speed.cloudflare.com is a tool that allows you to measure the speed and consistency of your connection to the Internet. You can use it to verify that the speed your ISP promised you is the speed you are getting, compare different ISPs or test network connectivity in different parts of your house.  This speed test returns upload and download speeds, as well as idle (round-trip), download and upload latency speeds in milliseconds (ms).

The measurements run on the Cloudflare network, which spans data centers in over 300+ cities worldwide. This ensures you are testing against a server that is close to you, which means you are measuring only the speed of your ISP, with a minimum number of networks in between you and the test server to minimize the impact on your speed test results.

M-Lab Web-based Speed Test

Approved by the NTIA for challenges and rebuttals as part of the BEAD program.*

For a simple test that doesn’t include installing an application, you can use the Measurement Lab’s web-based speed test.  M-Lab makes the collected speed-test data available to the public, allowing researchers and anyone else to build on a common pool of network measurement information.  Public organizations, academic researchers, regulators and companies around the world also use this data to understand the health of the Internet.  Published information includes your IP address and test results, but doesn’t include any other information about you as an internet user.  This speed test returns upload and download speeds, as well as idle (round-trip) latency speeds in milliseconds (ms).

The M-Lab project is sponsored by the charitable organization Code for Science & Society.

Netflix Speed Test

Approved by the NTIA for challenges and rebuttals as part of the BEAD program.*

Netflix’ Fast.com speed test offers a very simple and easy-to-read web-based speed test.  This speed test returns download speeds initially, and after clicking the “Show more info” button, it displays upload speeds, as well as loaded and unloaded latency speeds in milliseconds (ms).

Ookla Speed Test

Approved by the NTIA for challenges and rebuttals as part of the BEAD program.*

Ookla offers a web-based speed test as well as downloadable speed test apps for a variety of devices and operating systems.  This speed test returns download and upload speeds, as well as idle (round trip), download and upload latency speeds in milliseconds (ms).  You can download apps from the Apps tab on the Ookla homepage.

Though this speed test page includes a lot of embedded and somewhat annoying advertisements, it is a respected speed test that offers open datasets for analysis, as well as source code to allow organizations to create trusted test nodes and participate in the Ookla data-collection efforts.

Ookla also provides access to their speed test data on their Open Data Initiative.

State of California Speed Test*

How does your internet speed measure up to what you are paying for? CalSPEED is an internet speed test tool used for testing:

• Upload speed
• Download speed
• Message delay (latency)
• Message delay variation (jitter)

Your test contributes to the California state database of broadband quality. This is important to help state and local government to improve broadband in your area.

State of California Speed Test application is available for desktop computers only.  The the iOS and Android mobile apps are no longer available.

FCC Mobile Speed Test App*

The FCC National Broadband Map doesn’t just show you provider-reported broadband Internet speeds, it also shows provider-reported cellular service coverage. You can toggle the information on the map to show cellular coverage by clicking on the Mobile Broadband tab in the sidebar on the right side of the broadband map web page. The maps show 3G, 4G and 5G coverage areas that reflect where cellular service customers should be able to receive mobile service when outdoors or in a moving vehicle. The map information does not display indoor coverage.

If the information on mobile coverage submitted by your provider does not match your reality, you can dispute that information by taking outdoor or in-vehicle Challenge Speed Tests on your mobile device using the FCC Mobile Speed Test app. The Challenge Speed Tests must be taken between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., local time, not indoors, and not using Wi-Fi (the test will remind you to turn off your phone’s Wi-Fi). The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Challenge Speed Test results are analyzed and aggregated each month to determine whether there is a pattern of speed tests from the same area that meets the FCC’s threshold for creating a challenge and requiring a provider response. If such a pattern exists, the FCC will send a challenge to the provider for a response. If your Challenge Speed Test is part of a challenge sent to a provider, you will receive email messages with updates on the status of the challenge.

* Deprecated Speed Tests

The State and Federal Speed Tests are not currently relevant to the CPUC’s efforts to expand the physical broadband infrastructure in our region.  Since the agencies’ speed test pages are still available, though, we’ll keep them here for reference and for future use.

*Speed Tests approved by the NTIA for challenges and rebuttals as part of the BEAD program

“Speed tests are used to substantiate challenges and rebuttals related to internet service speed and latency. The requirements detailed in the Optional Speed Test Module (Section 1.4.6 of the BEAD Model Challenge Process) govern the use of speed tests for both the regular challenge process and pre-challenge modifications outlined in Optional Module 3: Speed Test Modifications (Section 1.4.2 of the BEAD Model Challenge Process). For Eligible Entities that adopt Optional Module 3, the speed tests used to substantiate the pre-challenge modifications must align to these requirements.”

The State of California adopted the Optional Speed Test Module in its Initial Proposal for the BEAD program.

BEAD Program Speed Test Requirements:

• The median result of three speed tests, taken on separate days, is used to identify service levels
• Speed tests must not be older than 60 days from the start of the challenge period
• Speed tests may be conducted by subscribers, but speed test challenges must be gathered and submitted by an eligible challenger (units of local government, nonprofit organizations, or an internet service provider)

Please review the NTIA’s 2-page overview of the Speed Test Challenge Process for more details on Speed Test Challenges as part of BEAD.

Report Your Broadband Speed Test Results

You can report your broadband Internet speed test results along with the service speeds that you should be getting.  With this data, our Counties will be able to engage with service providers to improve service quality in areas where needed.  This tool is intended to gather data only — speed test results reported here are not part of any resolution or escalation process.  If you need to report an issue with your service, please visit your service provider’s website or visit the Connected Eastern Sierra Get Connected web page for links to support pages for known service providers in our area.

The Report Your Speed Test link also displays a graph that shows actual speed test results from our region, as well as some pie charts to provide an overview of the types of tests used, service providers, and test locations.

Objective 5, Activities A & B

Last updated: January 6, 2025 1:54 pm