Wireless Access: A Barrier to Success?

Authors

Kara Dees AugerFollow

Name of Faculty Sponsor

Susan Mathews Hardy

Faculty Sponsor Email

shardy@kennesaw.edu

Author Bio(s)

Kara Dees graduated in December 2019 with a major in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis. Under the guidance of Professor Susan Mathews Hardy, Kara did this research in Summer of 2019. Kara has presented this research at the 2020 Kennesaw State University Symposium of Student Scholars held in April 2020.

Publication Date

2-2025

Abstract

This study investigates the differences in the speed of the Internet among various libraries in rural and urban counties, as well as how this difference affects KSU students' access to educational materials. The primary purpose was to determine how download and upload speeds compare across libraries and what impact those differences have on academic performance. A sample of libraries in counties with over 500 KSU students was selected, and speed tests were executed at two major libraries per county.

Data analysis by the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed the presence of considerable differences, with rural libraries like Maude P Ragsdale Public Library, Paulding County, having low speeds compared to urban libraries like Adairsville Public Library and Cartersville Public Library aligning with the findings of Kinney, (2010) and Wang et al. (2022). These findings emphasize the need for infrastructure improvements in rural areas and targeted educational policies to bridge the digital divide. Guaranteed access to the internet on equal terms is highly important for allowing and involving all KSU students in the full range of digital learning resources.