Top 10 States For Broadband High-Speed Internet Access

Top 10 States For Broadband Internet Access

We have carefully gathered and crunched data we collected from the Federal Communications Commission's most recent reporting and combined it with data from the US Census Bureau to create a list of states with the fastest download speeds and the most areas of coverage. Even though about 84% of American households nationwide subscribe to some type of internet service, just 13% of the total population has access to a high-speed broadband internet connection that provides speeds faster than 1 GBPS.

Rural connectivity in the US is still spotty at best, despite ISPs receiving billions in grants to build new infrastructure in those regions. There are many reasons for this, including lack of competition. Many internet service providers complain that some areas are too remote to service, yet those same areas had no problem getting other utilities, such as electric and telephone service, so it's much more likely that ISPs don't feel it's worthwhile to dip into their profits to invest in those areas. Those who can get high-speed internet in rural areas are more likely to have slower speeds and pay more for the same service than customers in cities. People of color and households with a lower level of education are also less likely to have access to the internet in their home according to the data. The broadband divide is particularly apparent in Native American communities with 32% of Americans living on tribal lands lacking a connection with federally recommended broadband speeds.

Here are the 10 best states for internet access in 2019, ranked according to the population's access to broadband internet and average upload and download speeds throughout each state:

10. New Hampshire

New Hampshire has more than 15 internet service providers offering residential and business connections. Cable and DSL are the most popular broadband types in the state.

Households with high-speed internet access: 88%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 7%

View internet service providers in New Hampshire.

9. Minnesota

Minnesota has about 17 internet service providers that offer residential and business connections. DSL, satellite, and cable are the most popular types of connection in the state.

Households with high-speed internet access: 86%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 15%

View internet service providers in Minnesota.

8. Nevada

Nevada has over 24 internet service providers offering residential and business connections throughout the state. The most popular type of connection in the state are DSL, fiber, satellite, and fixed wireless internet.

Households with high-speed internet access: 83%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 23%

View internet service providers in Nevada.
 

7. Georgia

Georgia has more than 27 internet service providers that offer residential and business connectivity solutions throughout the state. The three most popular forms of internet connection in the state are DSL, fiber, and cable.

Households with high-speed internet access: 83%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 27%

View internet service providers in Georgia.

6. Colorado

Colorado has more than 28 internet service providers that offer residential and business internet connections in the state. DSL is the most popular type of connection in the state, followed by cable and satellite.

Households with high-speed internet access: 88%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 12%

View internet service providers in Colorado.

5. Kansas

Kansas boasts over 30 internet service providers throughout the state that offer residential and business internet connections. DSL, satellite, and cable are the most popular connection types in the state.

Households with high-speed internet access: 83%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 28%

View internet service providers in Kansas.

4. Oregon

Oregon residents have access to more than 35 business and residential internet service providers in their state. The most popular type of internet connection in the state is DSL.

Households with high-speed internet access: 87%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 18%

View internet service providers in Oregon.

3. Washington

Washington has more than 36 residential and commercial internet service providers offering various types of connectivity in the state. The most popular connectivity type is DSL followed closely by cable.

Households with high-speed internet access: 89%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 16%

View internet service providers in Washington.

2. Utah

Utah has about 37 internet service providers that offer connectivity for your home or business. Satellite and DSL are the most popular types of connection in the state.

Households with high-speed internet access: 88%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 26%

View internet service providers in Utah.

1. Hawaii

Although Hawaii doesn't have nearly as many internet service providers as some other states, it more than makes up for that through access to broadband quality speeds. There are currently 10 providers located in Hawaii that provide business and residential service. Cable internet is the most popular type of connection in the state.


Households with high-speed internet access: 85%
Population with access to broadband connectivity: 46%

View internet service providers in Hawaii.

Unfortunately, not every state has made access to internet service a priority. The top 10 US states with the worst upload and download speeds and the populations with the least access to high-speed internet are:

10. Idaho

9. Indiana

8. South Dakota

7. Oklahoma

6. Maine

5. Montana

4. Alabama

3. Louisiana

2. West Virginia

1. Arkansas