Our Methodology
BroadbandGrade scores internet service for every US ZIP code using publicly available FCC data. We combine multiple broadband metrics into a single Broadband Grade so consumers can quickly assess internet quality in any area.
Data Source
Our primary data source is the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC), specifically the Form 477 area tables published on the FCC Open Data portal. This dataset includes broadband availability, provider counts, technology types, and speed tiers at the county level. We map this data to ZIP codes using the Census Bureau ZCTA-to-county crosswalk.
How We Calculate the Broadband Grade
Every ZIP code receives a Broadband Score on a 0-100 scale, mapped to letter grades A through F. The score is a weighted composite of four factors:
- Download Speed — 40% weight. Based on the percentage of locations with access to 100 Mbps and gigabit (1,000 Mbps) download speeds. Areas with widespread gigabit availability score highest.
- Provider Competition — 30% weight. Based on the percentage of locations with 3 or more broadband providers offering at least 25 Mbps download. More competition typically means better service and lower prices.
- Fiber Access — 20% weight. The percentage of locations with fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment. Fiber offers the most reliable and fastest broadband technology available.
- Upload Speed — 10% weight. A proxy score derived from gigabit and fiber availability, reflecting upstream capacity important for video calls, cloud computing, and content creation.
Grade Scale
| Grade | Score Range | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A | 80-100 | Excellent broadband — fast speeds, multiple providers, fiber available |
| B | 60-79 | Good broadband — solid speeds and reasonable competition |
| C | 40-59 | Average broadband — adequate but room for improvement |
| D | 20-39 | Below average — limited speeds or provider options |
| F | 0-19 | Poor broadband — underserved area with significant gaps |
Limitations
FCC data reflects advertised maximum speeds, not actual experienced speeds. Real-world performance depends on network congestion, equipment, and distance from infrastructure. Provider counts reflect availability, not subscription — a provider may be available but not affordable. We update our data semi-annually when the FCC releases new BDC filings.
Updates
Data was last refreshed on April 14, 2026. We re-process all ZIP codes each time the FCC publishes updated Form 477 data, typically every 6 months.