2026/02/23 by Robert Melendez, Philippa Clarke, Grace Noppert +1 · 1 voice
paper · doi:10.3886/icpsr302937
openalex publication_date 2026/02/23 · openalex created_date 2026/02/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
<span>This dataset contains measures of broadband internet availability and performance per United States census tract and ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) in 2025. The data is derived from internet service providers' reports to the Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Data Collection (BDC) program. Key variables include the number of internet service providers offering service, the proportion of housing units and land area with access to broadband, download and upload speed categories, low-latency service availability, and technology types for broadband connections.</span> <span>Broadband availability measures include the proportion of housing units and land area served by any provider, as well as the number of unique providers offering service. Speed measures are categorized into multiple tiers for both download speeds (ranging from less than 10 Mbps to 2000+ Mbps) and upload speeds (ranging from 1 Mbps or less to 100+ Mbps). The dataset also includes combined download/upload speed categories, distinguishing between unserved areas (less than 25/3 Mbps), underserved areas (at least 25/3 Mbps but less than 100/20 Mbps), and served areas (at least 100/20 Mbps). Technology type measures identify the proportion of housing units and land area served by different broadband technologies, including fiber to premises, coaxial cable, copper wire, fixed wireless, and satellite.</span>