SPRING HILL, Kan. — While the entire Kansas City metro remains under stay-at-home orders, more people are likely to be using the internet.
For residents in Spring Hill, the mandates present more even more challenges, because they experienced slow internet to begin with.
Tiffanie Proctor has lived in the town for several years and never thought the internet would be this slow.
"Everything is internet, you would think everything would be fast,” Proctor told 41 Action News. "It seems it’s easier to do it in the morning than it is later in the afternoon or day when more people are on.”
The sluggish internet speeds impact her son the most.
"I’ve definitely noticed it. It is significantly slower,” said 12-year-old Braelyn Proctor.
The slow speeds are noticeable when he plays video games.
"It will just say no, your connection’s too slow or it will kick you from the lobby,” he added.
But Braelyn is also home-schooled, so while he’s used to studying online, many more students are now joining him.
"I know we’ve had one teacher who couldn’t get on at all, so they canceled the live lesson," Tiffanie Proctor said. "(For) some it cut in and out so it makes it a little more difficult during class time."
According to the website satelliteinternet.com, Spring Hill ranks third-slowest in rural areas for internet speeds. According to the site, Spring Hill averages 4.8 megabits per second (Mbps) when the average in rural areas is 39.1 Mbps.
Other residents 41 Action News spoke with said the slow internet has interfered with their work, such as video conferencing calls cutting in and out.
When 41 Action News reached out to the city, officials would only say they are looking forward to increased internet speeds and reliability and that they share their residents' concerns.
Until then, the problem lags on.
"It’s a great place to live with just this one detraction is the internet," said Tommy Holland, another Spring Hill resident. "It’s like having a black eye here in town and it’s really rough."
41 Action News also reached out to the Spring Hill School District, as many students and teachers are at home dealing with the slow speeds.
The district responded with this statement:
"The Spring Hill School District is aware of the Internet challenges for some of our students. We are reaching out to each family individually to assess their needs for Internet access and/or devices to complete schoolwork. Following this process, the district is providing hot spots and devices where need is determined. We are addressing those with the highest need for technology assistance first. Additionally, all schoolwork is available in hard copy to any student who prefers or needs to complete a paper version. Paper packets can be picked up on Mondays through the meal service lines or at Spring Hill Price Chopper throughout the week.
We are working diligently to assist our families with the various needs that have arisen through this pandemic."
