Are you feeling frustrated with unreliable internet? Connect, Idaho wants to hear about broadband access.

A new state initiative encourages Idahoans to post information online about their slow, unreliable internet to better understand broadband availability across the state.

Link Up Idaho, led by the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board and the Idaho Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services, aims to gather information about connectivity challenges to develop a national broadband coverage map for Idaho, according to a press release. release.

March 15th is the deadline for submissions.

Federal funds are available to help with broadband access in all states, including Idaho, through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, the press release said. As part of this initiative, the Federal Communications Commission has created a map representing areas of underutilized and underserved broadband coverage across the United States.

According to the press release, submitting information about communities with problematic Internet services ensures that the FCC maps problem areas so that funds are managed appropriately. The presentations will also help in the development of the state’s broadband map, which will be used by the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board to allocate funding.

“The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board is excited to provide Idaho residents across the state with the support and tools they need to challenge the FCC’s broadband location and availability map and test individual Internet speeds,” Idaho Broadband Advisory Board Chairman, Rep. John Vander Woude, said. “This data will be important in helping the board with the allocation of broadband dollars.”

After the deadline, the Link Up Idaho program will continue to collect information and provide community assistance with Internet connectivity in the state, according to the release.

“This project is a great example of groups coming together with a common goal, to connect Idahoans,” said Idaho Broadband Program Manager Ramón Hobdey-Sánchez. “Information submitted by Idahoans will be critical as Idaho moves forward to expand broadband access across the state.”

To submit your broadband information and learn more about the program, visit linkup.idaho.gov. For the Spanish version of the website, visit linkup-es.idaho.gov. Residents without good Internet access at home are encouraged to visit their nearest public library to access the Link Up Idaho website and submit their information. Learn more about broadband in Idaho at https://commerce.idaho.gov/broadband/.