“The State with the Best Internet Wins!” – U.S. states with the fastest internet

The COVID-19 pandemic brought into focus an indisputable fact: access to quality internet service is key to full participation in society and the economy. But inequitable access to high-speed internet has been an issue for much longer than the last two years. Policymakers and business leaders—especially those from low-income and rural communities—have long advocated for increased investment in broadband infrastructure to unlock greater economic opportunities in underprivileged areas. Today, 93% of American adults report using the internet, but some parts of the country face greater barriers to reliable internet access. Further, there are some signs that states with fewer households able to access the internet also have worse internet quality overall. To determine the states with the fastest internet, researchers ranked states based on the average download speed measured in megabits per second.