Fiber on the rise: What FCC's new data tells us about broadband in the US

Every six months, the Federal Communications Commission releases updated data on the respective coverage of every internet provider in the US. That includes coverage maps as well as metrics on the types of technologies being used, the number of customers that fall into each provider's footprint, and the specific upload and download speeds available to those customers, should they choose to sign up. The latest update went live recently and brings the database up to date as of June 2020. In spite of some notorious shortcomings, that FCC data is of particular interest as we continue evaluating and reviewing every major internet provider in the US. That's because those FCC disclosures force each provider to show their cards and offer us a glimpse at how the scope of their coverage is changing -- or not. As many of us continue to push our networks to the max working from home amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, tracking the progress of the tech titans providing our internet connections feels more relevant than ever. To that end, here's a quick rundown of the major takeaways from the FCC's latest update, and what they tell us about the current state of broadband in America.

• The list of the largest internet providers in the US hasn't changed much over the past few years.
• The FCC's database doesn't include any data from SpaceX or from Starlink, the company's bid at building out a network of orbital satellites capable of providing an internet connection just about anywhere on Earth. That's because the FCC releases its data on a one-year delay, so the latest figures are only up to date as of June of last year. Starlink didn't start offering service through its beta launch until the end of 2020.
• With gigabit speeds that far surpass most other internet technologies, as well as upload speeds that are just as fast as they are for downloads, fiber-optic internet (fiber, for short) is widely considered to be the ideal mode of connecting to the web. The problem is that it isn't available everywhere -- for the most part, providers have focused on building out fiber networks in population-dense regions around America's major cities, leaving rural internet customers out of the mix. That said, the category has seen some definite growth in recent years, particularly in 2020.
• Upload speeds from most providers remain much slower than most customers would probably like. That's largely because fiber is really the only mode of home internet capable of hitting triple-digit upload speeds, and as mentioned earlier, fiber is far from universally available.