These are the top 5 states with the best--and worst--fixed internet coverage

The Federal Communications Commission is working to release new, better broadband coverage maps later in 2022. But in the interim, it released a fresh batch of data based on Form 477 submissions from operators. Fierce sifted through the data to find the states with the best and worst internet coverage, as measured by the percentage of the population without access to any ADSL, cable, or fiber providers offering speeds of at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps up. In Mississippi, nearly 21% of the overall population lacked access to fixed broadband providers. It was followed by Idaho (17.99%), Wyoming (17.57%), Montana (16.58%), and West Virginia (14.69%). Rounding out the top ten with the worst fixed coverage were Alaska (14.26%), Oklahoma (14.08%), New Mexico (13.19%), Arkansas (12.49%), and Alabama (10.77%). States in the Northeast dominated the list of those with the best internet coverage. Only 0.15% of Rhode Island’s population lacked access to a fixed internet service. Connecticut was close behind with just 0.58% of the population without a fixed provider. Rounding out the top five were New York (0.75%), New Jersey (1.15%), and Massachusetts (1.89%). However, the states with the lowest percentage of unconnected residents weren’t necessarily those with the most fixed competition. Though the FCC’s data indicated that 97.69% of the country’s population had access to three or more broadband providers when services like fixed wireless access and satellite were included, only 10.55% had their choice of three or more wireline providers. None of the 50 states offered three or more cable options to more than 1% of their population.