InternetProviders.ai analyzed 13,115,244 FCC Broadband Data Collection records mapped to H3 hexagonal grid cells to reveal the true state of broadband access in America. This is one of the largest independent analyses of FCC broadband coverage data ever published.
Key Findings
- 97 internet service providers serve residential customers across the United States
- Satellite dominates raw coverage — 55.6% of all coverage records are satellite (HughesNet and Viasat), meaning most of America's "covered" areas rely on high-latency connections
- True broadband (fiber + cable + 5G) covers only 22.3% of mapped hexagonal cells
- DSL remains significant at 22.2% of coverage records, largely from CenturyLink and Brightspeed legacy copper networks
- 84.2% of coverage records offer speeds under 100 Mbps — well below the FCC's proposed broadband standard
Provider Coverage Rankings
We ranked providers by their coverage footprint — the number of unique H3 hexagonal cells where they offer service. Each H3 cell represents approximately 0.74 square kilometers of area.
| Rank | Provider | Coverage Records | Technology | Max Speed Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HughesNet | ~4.3 million | Satellite | 100 Mbps |
| 2 | Viasat | ~2.8 million | Satellite | 150 Mbps |
| 3 | Spectrum | ~950,000 | Cable | 1 Gbps |
| 4 | CenturyLink | ~730,000 | DSL/Fiber | 940 Mbps |
| 5 | AT&T | ~545,000 | Fiber/DSL | 5 Gbps |
| 6 | Brightspeed | ~470,000 | DSL/Fiber | 940 Mbps |
| 7 | WOW | ~335,000 | Cable | 1 Gbps |
| 8 | Verizon | ~330,000 | Fiber/5G | 2.3 Gbps |
| 9 | T-Mobile | ~190,000 | 5G NR | 245 Mbps |
| 10 | Frontier | ~120,000 | Fiber/DSL | 5 Gbps |
Technology Distribution
The technology breakdown reveals a stark reality about American broadband infrastructure:
| Technology | Share of Coverage | Typical Speeds | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite | 55.6% | 25-150 Mbps down | 500-700ms |
| DSL | 22.2% | 1-100 Mbps down | 25-50ms |
| Cable (DOCSIS) | 11.1% | 100-1,200 Mbps down | 15-30ms |
| 5G NR (Home Internet) | 5.6% | 50-245 Mbps down | 20-40ms |
| Fiber (FTTH) | 5.5% | 300-10,000 Mbps down | 5-15ms |
The quality gap is enormous. While satellite technically "covers" over half of all mapped areas, it offers high latency (500ms+) that makes video calls, gaming, and real-time applications difficult. True high-quality broadband (cable, fiber, and 5G) reaches only about 22% of mapped coverage cells.
Speed Tier Analysis
We analyzed the maximum advertised download speeds across all 13.1 million records:
| Speed Tier | Share of Records | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 Mbps | 68.7% | Below current FCC broadband definition |
| 25-100 Mbps | 15.5% | Meets current minimum, struggles with multiple users |
| 100-300 Mbps | 8.2% | Adequate for most households |
| 300 Mbps - 1 Gbps | 5.4% | Excellent for families and power users |
| 1 Gbps+ | 2.2% | Future-proof, multi-gig available |
Nearly 7 in 10 coverage records offer speeds below the FCC's 25/3 Mbps broadband threshold. This means that while providers claim to "cover" an area, the actual speeds available fall short of what the government considers broadband.
State-by-State Coverage Density
Our analysis spans all 50 states plus DC. States with the highest provider competition tend to have better speeds and pricing for consumers. Our state broadband coverage reports provide detailed breakdowns for each state.
Key state-level findings:
- Most competitive markets: States with dense urban populations (NY, CA, TX, FL) have 5+ providers competing in metro areas
- Least competitive markets: Rural states (MT, WY, WV, ND) often have only 1-2 wired providers, with satellite as the only alternative
- Fastest fiber expansion: Texas, Florida, and North Carolina are seeing the most aggressive fiber buildout from AT&T, Frontier, and regional providers
The Competition Problem
Cross-referencing our Broadband Access Report with coverage data reveals:
- 42% of American addresses have 2 or fewer broadband options (excluding satellite)
- In competitive markets (3+ providers), consumers pay an average of $0.05 per Mbps
- In monopoly markets (1 provider), consumers pay $0.22 per Mbps — 4.4x more
- The HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index) exceeds 2,500 in 29% of CBSA markets, indicating high concentration
BEAD Funding Impact
The $42.45 billion BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program is targeting the exact coverage gaps our data reveals. States with the highest percentage of sub-25 Mbps coverage are receiving proportionally more funding. Track state-by-state allocations in our broadband coverage reports.
Methodology
This analysis uses data from the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC), which requires internet service providers to report coverage at a granular level. We mapped all 13,115,244 records to Uber's H3 hexagonal grid system at resolution 8 (approximately 0.74 km² per cell), creating the most precise nationwide broadband coverage database available.
Our data pipeline:
- Ingest FCC BDC filings (CSV format, updated semi-annually)
- Map each record to an H3 resolution-8 hexagonal cell
- Cross-reference with 10,762 city definitions and 30,501 ZIP codes
- Calculate CBSA-level market competition metrics (HHI scores)
- Generate provider rankings and technology distribution statistics
All source data is available for verification. For questions about methodology, see our research methodology page.
About This Research
This study was conducted by Pablo Mendoza, Lead Analyst at InternetProviders.ai. Our mission is to provide unbiased, data-driven broadband analysis to help consumers make informed decisions. Unlike affiliate-driven comparison sites, our rankings are based on actual FCC coverage data, not advertising revenue.
For media inquiries or to cite this research, please contact us.