Broadband reaching more than ever

This month, the National Broadband Map, a project of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) reported on U.S. broadband data collected through the end of 2013. The data shows that more people have access to more and faster broadband – although these statistics are based solely on the self-reporting by broadband providers.

Nevertheless, it shows nearly every American has access to at least slow wired or wireless broadband (6 Mbps down and 1.5 up).

Access to faster broadband, though, shows a number of variations. For households with access to greater than 10 Mbps download, the forms of technology are:

•    Cable: 86% of households
•    Fiber: 24% of households
•    DSL: 56% of households
•    mobile wireless: 96% of households
•    fixed wireless: 23% of households

And, when we examine those households with access to 50 Mbps, the breakout is:

•    cable: 80% of households
•    fiber: 22% of households
•    DSL: 1% of households
•    mobile wireless: 35 of households
•    fixed wireless: 6% of households

According to the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, the goal is to have 100 million households by reach 50 Mbps by 2015. So, although we have come a long way toward universal, high-speed access, we still are falling short of our 2015 goals.

Broadband Statistics Report (National Broadband Map, Jul., 2014)