Updated broadband map shows the number of homes without internet is decreasing

Robin Layton

Nov 30, 2023 — 1 min read

FCC broadband availability map with types of service shown as blue shading.

The newest version of the National Broadband Map shows the number of homes and businesses without internet access is going down, reporting 7.2 million locations lack high-speed internet access versus the 8.3 million shown on the May 2023 map.

The broadband map was created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and its first iteration went live in November. 

The accuracy and reporting are getting better because “robust participation in the challenge processes continues to play a valuable role in correcting data shown on the Map,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The results of 4.8 million challenges to provider reported availability information and over 1.5 million accepted location challenges. Since our last release, we’ve initiated mobile coverage audits in a number of states. We’ve also seen hundreds of corrections to provider-reported data based on FCC-initiated verification efforts.”

The idea of an accurate internet service map is to provide one source of critical data that can help policymakers and providers decide where to direct broadband funds for expansion and upgrade.

See Allconnect’s News and Research hubs for more broadband guides and information.

Robin Layton

Written by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

Robin Layton is an editor for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. She built her internet industry expertise writing and editing for four years on the site, as well as on Allconnect’s sister site MYMOVE.com. … Read more