Consolidated Communications Overall Rating Breakdown

Consolidated Communications earns a 6.8 overall rating, reflecting its dual identity as both a modern fiber and legacy DSL provider serving smaller communities that larger carriers frequently overlook. In fiber-upgraded areas, the service is reliable, competitively priced, and delivers genuine gigabit performance that rivals what national providers offer in major metros. DSL areas experience the typical limitations of aging copper infrastructure with slower speeds and less consistent reliability. Customer service benefits from knowledgeable local staff who understand their specific communities, though response times can lag larger providers during major events.

What Customers Say About Consolidated Communications

Speed Consistency

Fiber customers report consistently strong speeds of 850-950 Mbps on gigabit plans, which is fully competitive with any national fiber provider at any price point. Symmetric uploads are particularly valued by the increasing number of remote workers and small business operators in these communities who need to upload large files and maintain quality video conferences. DSL customers in more rural areas of the footprint report 25-75 Mbps depending on copper line quality and distance from the central office equipment, which can vary substantially even within the same town.

Customer Support Quality

Customer support is typical of a well-run mid-size regional provider that takes its community role seriously. Phone wait times average 10-20 minutes during normal business hours, with knowledgeable local staff who understand the specific network conditions and infrastructure challenges in each community they serve. The smaller team size means that major storm-related outages or widespread equipment failures can temporarily overwhelm support capacity. Online account management is functional for routine tasks like bill payment and plan changes but basic compared to the sophisticated digital tools offered by national providers.

Installation Experience

Installation experiences vary by location and service type within the footprint. Fiber installations in recently upgraded areas are professional, timely, and usually completed within 2-3 hours by experienced technicians who are familiar with the specific infrastructure in that neighborhood. DSL installations are straightforward but may involve receiving equipment that is a generation behind current technology standards. Scheduling availability depends heavily on local technician staffing levels, which can be limited in more rural service areas with longer drive times between appointments.

Billing Transparency

Billing is transparent and straightforward, with clearly stated monthly rates and no surprise fees or hidden surcharges appearing on your statement. Promotional pricing transitions to standard rates after the initial promotional period, which is always disclosed upfront during the signup conversation. The company notably does not engage in aggressive upselling tactics during support calls, which customers consistently cite as a positive differentiator from their experiences with larger national providers. Bills are easy to understand with clear line-item breakdowns showing exactly what each charge covers.

Pros and Cons of Consolidated Communications

How Consolidated Communications Compares to Other Providers

Choosing an internet provider means weighing speed, price, reliability, and availability against your needs. Here is how Consolidated Communications measures up against its primary competitors:

Spectrum offers wider cable availability and consistent speeds across a broader geography, but Consolidated fiber outperforms Spectrum significantly on upload speeds and latency. Xfinity has faster top-tier speeds and more sophisticated digital tools and features, but Xfinity enforces a 1.2 TB data cap that Consolidated does not. Verizon Fios is a more polished and feature-rich fiber experience where available, though Fios coverage is concentrated on the East Coast while Consolidated serves different and often smaller communities that Fios does not reach.

Compare plans side by side:

• Consolidated Communications vs Spectrum
• Consolidated Communications vs Xfinity
• Consolidated Communications vs Verizon Fios

Our Testing Experience with Consolidated Communications

Our fiber test of Consolidated Communications' 1 Gbps plan delivered 870 Mbps down and 850 Mbps up with latency of 10ms, which is competitive with national fiber providers and represents excellent value at the company's price points. Wi-Fi coverage from the provided router was adequate for homes up to 2,000 square feet without additional range extenders. The DSL test at a different address produced 55 Mbps down and 8 Mbps up with 18ms latency, which is reasonable performance for copper infrastructure but not competitive with modern cable or fiber alternatives available in larger markets.

The company's web portal handles basic account management adequately, including bill payment, plan changes, and support ticket submission with reasonable response times. During our full seven-day testing period, both the fiber and DSL connections maintained consistent performance without any unexpected outages or service interruptions. For fiber customers, the experience is genuinely comparable to what you would receive from AT&T Fiber or Verizon Fios, delivered by a smaller company with a more personal, community-focused approach to customer relationships.

Who Should Choose Consolidated Communications?

Consolidated Communications is the right pick for specific types of internet users. Based on our research, hands-on testing, and analysis of customer reviews, here are the profiles that benefit most:

• Residents in smaller markets where Consolidated offers fiber and national providers either do not reach or underinvest
• Customers who value supporting a regional provider with genuine community ties and local economic involvement
• Households in Northern New England and Midwest markets seeking a fiber alternative to cable internet
• Budget-conscious users looking for straightforward, no-contract internet service with transparent pricing
• Small businesses in Consolidated fiber areas needing reliable symmetric bandwidth for daily operations

If you fit one or more of these profiles, Consolidated Communications is worth serious consideration. To explore available plans, visit Consolidated Communications Plans and Pricing.

The Bottom Line on Consolidated Communications

Consolidated Communications fills an important and often underappreciated niche in the internet provider landscape by bringing quality fiber service to smaller communities that national providers consistently deprioritize in their investment plans. If you live in a Consolidated fiber area, you are getting performance that genuinely competes with AT&T Fiber and Verizon Fios at competitive prices with the added benefit of local community-focused service. The DSL product is less compelling but remains the best wired option in some markets. For customers who value a provider with real roots in their community, Consolidated is a solid and steadily improving choice.

For a full overview, visit our Consolidated Communications provider page or compare Consolidated Communications plans and pricing.