It’s hard enough to buy internet from one internet provider. Comparing prices and speeds from multiple providers is even trickier, especially when you take into account the different types of internet connection. Created by the Federal Communications Commission, the Broadband Map is an easy-to-use way to research ISPs – and one of the best tools we use to make in-depth reviews and determine which ISP is the best in your area. But is the FCC broadband map always accurate? Are there other similar tools you can use?
The FCC updates its database twice a year to keep pace with the ever-changing broadband landscape, especially as fiber providers expand into more areas and new technologies like 5G home internet and low-orbit satellites continue to expand their footprint. The most recent update was released in mid-May, making the data current as of December 31, 2023, the data we use in our reviews.
But despite the biannual updates, the FCC acknowledges that its maps and data are not without flaws. To aid accuracy, users can suggest changes to an address, building type, or the listed providers and speeds available.
However, if you’re researching ISPs, the FCC Broadband Map is an essential guideline for mapping the ISP network, but there are some other resources at your disposal. Let’s take a closer look at the FCC Broadband Map, how it works, what it tells us about the state of broadband availability, and other resources you can rely on as well.
If you’re looking for data on broadband access, check out Microsoft’s broadband map
Microsoft’s Digital Equity Data Dashboard allows users to find data by county with a variety of metrics.
The FCC Broadband Map is the foundation for broadband connectivity research, but it is not the only source of data on Internet service providers.
Microsoft has its own broadband map, the Microsoft Digital Equity Data Dashboard. This tool uses FCC data, as well as data from the US Census Bureau and some other sources.
While the FCC’s data focuses on the availability of Internet providers and connection types across the country, Microsoft’s Digital Equity Dashboard focuses specifically on broadband access, so the map has a few more metrics than the FCC’s map — including data on households down to specific provinces. However, unlike the FCC, Microsoft limits the map to a state-by-state view. If you’re specifically looking for information about broadband access in your area, Microsoft’s map is the place for you. If you’re looking for more general information about what internet is available at your address, the FCC is a user-friendly way to easily find that information.
How does the FCC Broadband Card work?
The FCC collects its data using a combination of ISP-submitted data (collected twice a year) and user-submitted corrections.
Fixed wired internet providers report data by location, while fixed wireless internet providers use so-called ‘propagation modeling’ to show an overall coverage area. Because fixed wireless network providers are subject to so many coverage variables (from weather to cell tower capacity), this data may not always accurately reflect the coverage you get.
Finally, the FCC also relies on CostQuest, a broadband data consultancy that uses GIS data to build the actual map, including useful locations or places without a reliable broadband connection. The data presented by CostQuest also undergoes an annual state-by-state process.
Findings from the FCC Broadband Map: Broadband is available everywhere, with a catch
According to the FCC, 99.97% of US households have a broadband connection – or a download speed of at least 100 Mbps and an upload speed of 20 Mbps. However, that doesn’t mean we’ve closed the broadband gap.
Satellite internet, from Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink, skews the data somewhat, as each provider is available virtually everywhere in the US and can offer download speeds of 100 Mbps or higher (although not by much) in most service areas.
When you disregard satellite Internet, as filters on the FCC maps allow, broadband Internet is only available to about 93% of U.S. households. That includes wired (cable, DSL, fiber) and wireless connections such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. Further limiting the scope to only cable and fiber services – the best connection types for high speeds and varied plans – further reduces broadband availability to 89%.
Broadband availability by connection type
| Connection type | National broadband availability | Approximately units served | Change since June 30, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable | 83% | 134.5 million | -1% |
| DSL | 4% | 7.1 million | -7% |
| Fiber | 43% | 69.9 million | 5% |
| Fixed wireless | 42% | 68.2 million | 3% |
| Satellite | 99% | 162.8 million | 0% |
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Cable is the most available connection
After satellite, cable Internet is the most available connection type, covering approximately 83% of U.S. homes. That’s down slightly from June 2023, which may be due to cable providers adding fiber optic connections to their networks and diverting customers away from the cable product.
Comcast’s Xfinity has the widest cable coverage, available to more than a third of U.S. households, followed by Spectrum with about 30% and Cox with 7%. Many smaller, regional cable internet providers provide the remaining coverage. Astound, Mediacom, Optimum and WideOpenWest are notable cable ISPs with national coverage of over 1%.
Wireless availability is growing rapidly
Despite cable internet coverage, T-Mobile Home Internet shows the greatest home internet availability of all non-satellite providers at approximately 70%. However, it’s worth noting that not all of T-Mobile’s home internet coverage qualifies as broadband — again, that’s speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up — according to the FCC data.
Nationwide broadband availability across all fixed wireless carriers, including T-Mobile along with Verizon 5G Home Internet, US Cellular, Google Fiber’s Webpass, Starry Internet, Rise Broadband, and many others, is approximately 42%. That’s still low compared to cable, but the figure is up impressively from just 26% a year earlier.
According to the most recent FCC data, more than 40% of American households are eligible for fiber optic internet. Service areas of all fiber providers are shown in the map above.
Fiber optic coverage is increasing
Fiber also saw year-over-year gains, improving from 38% in December 2022 to just under 43% in December 2023. While growth is promising, fiber expansion still has plenty of room to continue, especially in suburban and rural areas. . The FCC data shows that about 45% of households in urban areas are eligible for fiber internet, compared to only 33% of those in non-metro areas.
Except in the major cities where fiber optic internet is most commonly found, Rhode Island is your best bet for establishing a fiber optic internet connection. Fiber optic internet is available to more than three-quarters of the state, thanks to major ISPs like Verizon Fios and Cox. Other states that stood out for their exceptionally high fiber coverage include New York (60%), North Dakota (62%) and Connecticut (58%). Alaska had the lowest fiber availability at just over 8% of households in the state, followed by Arizona and New Mexico, each with coverage of about 15%.
What happened to DSL?
DSL Internet once competed with cable Internet in terms of availability, but the technology is now largely outdated. As a result, fewer and fewer providers are offering DSL internet to new customers and the networks are becoming smaller.
That said, DSL Internet may be the only practical home Internet option in rural parts of the US. About 4% of households have broadband speeds, but for speeds of at least 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps (which was considered broadband until the FCC increased the definition in March), total coverage remains around 21%.
So, what’s available in my region?
The FCC National Broadband Map allows you to limit results to an area (state, province, census tract, tribal area, or metropolitan statistical area) or a specific location, such as your current address or an address you may be moving to.
Searching by address produces the most detailed results. Once you enter an address, you’ll get an alphabetical list of available providers, the connection type they use, and the maximum speeds they offer. Keep in mind that the maximum speeds may not be the only speeds an ISP offers. For example, Comporium and Spectrum offer download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps at my address, but lower speed tiers of 300 and 500 Mbps are also available.
Report any inaccuracies to the FCC
FCC broadband maps and data have certainly improved in recent years, but they are far from completely accurate. If you notice incorrect information for an address, whether it’s ownership information or the providers serving the address, you can report it directly to the FCC using the links in the address results.
It’s easy to submit a challenge request; you just need to create an account on the FCC Broadband Map site first.
You can use the Location Challenge link to report incorrect property information, such as listed address, building type, and number of units. The Availability Challenge link allows you to send feedback or challenge the provider information for the address, including the need to add missing providers. Your submission will require your name, address and contact details, along with the reason for your dispute and any documentation you have to support your claim.
Submitting a challenge form only takes a few minutes. Doing so will ensure that the FCC data accurately reflects your address, which could impact future funding or expansion efforts for ISPs in your area. To learn more about the FCC Broadband Maps, the data and how you can improve them, visit the FCC National Broadband Map About Us page.
