University of Kansas researchers are trying to create a snapshot of broadband access for every ZIP code in Kansas and now are asking for the public’s help in the effort.

A project that KU’s Institute for Policy & Social Research is conducting with the University of Michigan is asking Kansas residents to take a brief survey to describe the broadband internet options in their community.

The survey can be taken at ipsr.ku.edu.

Researchers particularly are trying to reach rural families who have children in school. There is a concern that those families have struggled with internet access issues during the pandemic, but researchers need more data to fully understand the situation.

There’s general knowledge about the lack of broadband access in Kansas. One study by a nonprofit has estimated more than 300,000 Kansans suffer from slow internet speeds. But KU and Michigan researchers are hoping that a ZIP-code-by-ZIP-code analysis will produce the type of detailed results that companies and policy makers can use to start improving broadband access.