How We Rate & Review Internet Providers

InternetProviders.ai builds its provider lists from FCC broadband coverage filings and lists plan details from provider materials and published plan listings. Our reviews are desk research — we do not run a physical test lab.

Our Data Sources

Provider lists on InternetProviders.ai start with the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC), the federal broadband map program that replaced Form 477 in 2022. Under BDC rules, facilities-based providers file the locations where they offer service, the connection technology, and the maximum advertised download and upload speeds. Our lookups currently use the June 2025 filing.

• FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) — coverage and availability data for 30,000+ ZIP codes across the United States
• Plan details — plans, pricing, and terms from provider materials such as broadband labels and websites, or from published plan listings

What the Lookup Reads When You Search

1. A ZIP code covers an area. The ZIP is matched to its center point. We read the FCC map cell there plus the two rings of cells around it, normally 19 hexagonal cells of about 0.74 square kilometers each.
2. A street address narrows it to one cell. An address is located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and checked against the single map cell that contains it, so the result covers a much smaller area than a ZIP.
3. Each result comes from a provider filing. You see the provider brand, the connection technology (the FCC's technology code translated into fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless or satellite), the maximum advertised download and upload speeds, and whether the provider reported low latency. A company can appear more than once when it filed separate brands or technologies.

Five Levels of Availability Confidence

1. Level 1: ZIP-level estimate. Typical coverage across a wider area, such as a metro area or the states a provider serves. Nobody has checked it for a specific street address.
2. Level 2: FCC-reported coverage. Providers' own coverage filings to the FCC, resolved to the small area you searched (BDC June 2025). Filings can lag new construction.
3. Level 3: Provider's coverage map. The provider's own coverage map or lookup, resolved to your location. Maps can include streets the provider has not built out yet.
4. Level 4: Provider address check. The provider has checked serviceability at one exact street address.
5. Level 5: Order-flow confirmation. Availability and plan details were confirmed inside the provider's order process for that exact address.

ZIP pages and the address checker never go above level 2: a provider is listed as reported only when FCC filings for the map cells searched include it. Levels 3 to 5 come from the provider: its own map, its address check, or its order process. Settle the plan, the first-bill total and installation with the provider before you order.

Rating Methodology

InternetProviders.ai ratings are an independent editorial score from 1 to 5 — the simple average of five equally-weighted factors (price & value, max speed, value for money, data caps and customer support) derived from the plan, price, data-cap and support details we list for each provider.

1. Price & value
2. Max speed
3. Value for money
4. Data caps
5. Customer support

Each factor is scored from 1 to 5, and the rating is the simple average of the five scores, rounded to one decimal. This rating currently appears for a small set of providers whose listed plan details cover every factor. On provider pages and on ZIP and city provider cards it is shown with its five factor scores, so you can check the math.

Editorial Independence

Who Is Responsible

InternetProviders.ai is run by its two co-founders. They set the templates, data sources and rating rules our pages are built from.

View detailed credentials and published articles for all contributors on our authors page.

How We Keep Data Current

Coverage filings and provider plans change on different schedules, so each part of the site is based on a different source:

Editorial Standards

Correction Policy

AI Content Disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions

How does InternetProviders.ai rate internet providers?

InternetProviders.ai ratings are an independent editorial score from 1 to 5 — the simple average of five equally-weighted factors (price & value, max speed, value for money, data caps and customer support) derived from the plan, price, data-cap and support details we list for each provider. Each factor is scored from 1 to 5 and the rating is their simple average, rounded to one decimal. This rating currently appears for a small set of providers whose listed plan details cover every factor; on provider pages and on ZIP and city provider cards it is shown with its five factor scores.

Where does your broadband data come from?

Provider lists on InternetProviders.ai start with the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC), the federal broadband map program that replaced Form 477 in 2022. Under BDC rules, facilities-based providers file the locations where they offer service, the connection technology, and the maximum advertised download and upload speeds. Our lookups currently use the June 2025 filing. Plan details come from provider materials, such as broadband labels and websites, or from published plan listings; confirm current terms with the provider before you order.

How often is your data updated?

Coverage lookups currently use the June 2025 FCC Broadband Data Collection filing, and filings can lag new construction. Provider plans and prices change more often than any filing, so confirm the current price and installation details with the provider before you order.

Do affiliate partnerships influence your ratings?

No. Ratings come from the five-factor formula described on this page, and no provider pays for a higher rating. We may earn a commission when you order through links or phone numbers on our pages. Affiliate relationships never change our ratings; on ZIP pages they can affect which providers appear in the first 12 cards.

How can I report an error in your data?

Contact us at support@internetproviders.ai or via our contact page. We investigate all reported issues — typically beginning within two business days — and publish corrections once verified.

Contact Us

Have questions about our methodology or want to report an inaccuracy? We welcome feedback. Visit our contact page to reach the editorial team directly.