The Grade Scale
Excellent broadband access. Fast speeds, multiple providers, fiber available, strong upload.
Good access. Meets FCC benchmarks with reasonable competition. Minor gaps in one or two areas.
Moderate access. Basic broadband available but limited competition or no fiber. Typical of suburban cable monopolies.
Poor access. Slow speeds, few providers, or both. Often limited to DSL or basic cable.
No broadband. Does not meet FCC benchmark. May be limited to satellite or slow DSL. Eligible for federal subsidies.
The Four Factors
Download Speed — 40% Weight
The maximum available download speed in the ZIP code, scored against the FCC benchmark of 100 Mbps (2024 standard) and long-term goal of 1 Gbps. Areas with gigabit+ speeds score near 100. Areas under 25 Mbps score near 0. Download speed carries the most weight because it directly determines what activities are possible — 4K streaming, large downloads, and multi-device usage all depend on download capacity.
Provider Competition — 30% Weight
The number of ISPs offering broadband-level service. Monopoly markets (1 provider) score low regardless of speed. Duopoly markets (2 providers) score moderate. Competitive markets (3+ providers) score high. This factor is weighted at 30% because competition is the strongest predictor of fair pricing, responsive customer service, and continued investment. About 30% of U.S. addresses have only one broadband provider.
Fiber Availability — 20% Weight
Whether fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is available in the ZIP code. Fiber is a binary indicator of future-proof infrastructure — areas with fiber today will support multi-gigabit speeds for decades. Areas without fiber are dependent on technologies with inherent speed limits (cable, DSL) or less reliable connections (wireless). About 96% of ZIP codes in our database have at least one fiber provider.
Upload Speed — 10% Weight
Maximum available upload speed, scored against the FCC benchmark of 20 Mbps and long-term goal of 500 Mbps. Upload matters increasingly for video calls, cloud computing, and content creation. Cable's weak upload speeds (typically 10-35 Mbps) penalize these areas even when download speeds are fast. Fiber's symmetrical speeds naturally score high on this factor.
National Grade Distribution
Across 34K graded ZIP codes:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Broadband Grade?
The Broadband Grade rates internet access quality from A (excellent) to F (poor) for every U.S. ZIP code. It combines four factors into a single 0-100 score: download speed (40%), provider competition (30%), fiber availability (20%), and upload speed (10%). The grade reflects not just how fast your internet can be, but whether you have real choice and future-proof infrastructure.
Why is competition weighted at 30%?
Provider competition is the strongest predictor of long-term service quality and fair pricing. FCC data shows prices drop about 40% when a third ISP enters a market. ZIP codes with a single provider rarely have low prices or responsive customer service regardless of speed. We weight competition at 30% because it directly affects what consumers actually experience.
Can a ZIP code with fast speed get a low grade?
Yes. A ZIP code with 1 Gbps from a single cable provider, no fiber, and 20 Mbps upload might score around 55 (Grade C). The fast download speed (40% weight) is offset by monopoly conditions (30%), no fiber (20%), and poor upload (10%). In practice, these areas tend to have high prices and slow upload speeds despite fast downloads.
How often are grades updated?
Grades are recalculated when the FCC publishes new Broadband Data Collection data, which occurs twice a year. New ISP deployments, fiber buildouts, and changes in provider availability are reflected in the next update cycle.
What does a Grade F mean?
A Grade F (score 0-19) indicates that a ZIP code lacks broadband-level internet access. These areas typically have no providers meeting the FCC benchmark of 100/20 Mbps, often limited to slow DSL or satellite. Grade F areas are prime candidates for BEAD funding and other federal broadband subsidies.