Frequently Asked Questions

Can this tell me what internet is available at my address?

No. We use only the FCC's freely reusable datasets, which work at the census-block and area level. We can tell you which providers and technologies are reported across a city or county, not what's wired to a specific house. For an address check, use the provider's own site or the FCC's National Broadband Map.

Where does the data come from?

The FCC Broadband Data Collection public-use files and the National Broadband Map public datasets, plus Census geography and household counts.

Why might the coverage look better than reality?

Because providers report their own coverage to the FCC, and those reports tend to be optimistic. Treat the availability figures as an upper bound, not a guarantee.

How often is it updated?

The FCC refreshes the Broadband Data Collection about twice a year. Each area page shows which collection period its numbers come from.

Is BroadbandAtlasUSA affiliated with the FCC?

No. It is an independent reference site. The data is public U.S. government information; the site is not endorsed by or affiliated with the FCC.

More detail on sources is on the About the Data page.