FLOTO Data: A Broadband Performance Dataset for Computer Science

The proliferation of high-speed internet has fundamentally altered modern society, yet significant disparities in broadband access and performance persist. Understanding these disparities and their implications requires robust, granular data on internet performance. The FLOTO project aims to contribute to this understanding by deploying 1,000 edge devices to measure broadband performance in households across select urban […]

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Mapping Internet quality across America with the Internet Equity Initiative

If you follow our research, you know that broadband measurement is at the heart of our project. FLOTO’s core insight is leveraging advances in edge computing and hardware to improve broadband measurement for research and policy while reducing the costs and complexity of managing edge deployments. Our work over the last two years has helped […]

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Case Study: FLOTO’s Collaboration with Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce to Address Digital Inequity

In an ongoing effort to bridge the digital divide and promote equitable internet access, the FLOTO project, in collaboration with the Internet Equity Initiative (IEI), has been working closely with the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce (GECC) in Chicago. This case study highlights our journey of community engagement and technological advocacy in Englewood, showcasing how […]

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FLOTO Empowers Merit Network to Challenge Broadband Data in Michigan

A conversation with Justin Campbell, Project Coordinator at Merit Network, reveals how FLOTO played a crucial role in their recent success submitting broadband data to the Michigan High-Speed Internet (MIHI) Office. In February 2024, Merit Network partnered with the Internet Equity Initiative to deploy FLOTO devices on Beaver Island, Michigan. Their objective was to measure […]

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Expanding Horizons: FLOTO Partners with United Way and Merit Network to Enhance Broadband Research

The FLOTO project is thrilled to announce two significant partnerships that mark a pivotal expansion of our broadband research efforts. We have recently secured research agreements with United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Merit Network, aiming to deploy our innovative FLOTO infrastructure in Milwaukee, WI, and San Rafael, CA. These collaborations represent a major step […]

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Postal Pitfalls: How Missing Postcards Challenge Chicago’s Digital Divide Efforts

In a recent initiative by the FLOTO project, in partnership with the University of Chicago’s Internet Equity Initiative, we embarked on a crucial study to uncover internet access disparities within Chicago, focusing on the South Shore and Logan Square neighborhoods. We distributed thousands of postcards inviting residents to participate in a study measuring internet performance, […]

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Bridging Digital Divides: FLOTO’s New Frontier in Chicago Neighborhoods

The FLOTO project is on the move, broadening its horizons beyond academic and institutional settings to directly engage with the heart of urban life. In an ambitious expansion, we’re deploying 200 measurement devices across residential areas in Chicago, focusing on the vibrant communities of Logan Square and South Shore. This strategic move marks a significant […]

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Case Study: FLOTO’s Impact through the Analysis of Internet Performance Data in Marion County

In October 2023, the FLOTO project, in collaboration with the Illinois Office of Broadband (IL Broadband) and the Internet Equity Initiative (IEI), assessed home Internet performance in rural Marion County, Illinois. IL Broadband, which oversees major state broadband initiatives for local capacity building, community planning, and digital equity, connected the IEI and FLOTO with an […]

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