Best Internet Providers in Carter County, TN
All 9 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Carter County, TN
Carter County has 9 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Fiber, Cable, DSL, and Fixed Wireless internet are available in the county. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Carter County.
Ranks compare Carter County with the 95 Tennessee counties.
The Best Internet in Carter County, TN at a Glance
Carter County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Brightspeed
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
XFINITY
Connection
Customer Rating
Cable
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fixed Wireless
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this county are excluded from the list. To see if one of these providers is available at your home, please use the address search above.
Speed and technology may vary by address for all providers. Please note we may have a financial relationship with some of the providers above, which does not impact the customer ratings displayed. Customer ratings listed above are national ratings, local Carter County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Carter County, TN?
T-Mobile Home Internet is the best internet provider in Carter County based on Tennessee customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, T-Mobile Home Internet had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in Carter County, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. T-Mobile Home Internet is an option for 94.65% of the county.
Click here to get T-Mobile Home Internet
or call 1-833-601-2935
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Carter County?
Coverage changes block by block. Pick a provider and a technology to see where its service reaches: the darker the area, the larger the share of homes it covers. For your exact address, use the address search above.
Coverage map for each provider in Carter County
- Brightspeed - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- BrightRidge - fiber coverage map
- XFINITY - cable coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- SkyLine Membership - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- Spectrum - fiber coverage map
- Brightspeed - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
How Carter County Compares to the Rest of Tennessee
Carter County's report card score is tied 45th of 95 and its connectivity index is tied 58th of 95.
| Measure | Carter County | Rank among Tennessee counties | Tennessee | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 86.6% | Tied 63rd of 95 | 84.4% | 71.5% | Lake County (100.0%) |
| Average top speed | 2,380 Mbps | 40th of 95 | 5,177 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Hamilton County (23,667 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 5.9 | Tied 44th of 95 | 7.3 | 7.1 | Knox County (9.1) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.3 | Tied 82nd of 95 | 2.5 | 2.7 | Williamson County (2.9) |
| Workers who work from home | 7% | Tied 68th of 95 | 13% | 15% | Williamson County (29%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 91% | Tied 55th of 95 | 95% | 96% | Williamson County (99%) |
| Homes with internet | 84% | Tied 60th of 95 | 90% | 91% | Williamson County (97%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 69% | Tied 39th of 95 | 74% | 76% | Williamson County (87%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 67% | Tied 48th of 95 | 76% | 81% | Williamson County (93%) |
| Median household income | $51,054 | 83rd of 95 | $79,063 | $93,246 | Williamson County ($150,679) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 12% | Tied 54th of 95 | 15% | 16% | Putnam County (20%) |
Fiber reaches 86.6% of homes in Carter County, against 84.4% across Tennessee. Households in Carter County are smaller than the US average (2.3 people against 2.7); 7% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $51,054 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
How Carter County Compares to Its Neighbors
Carter County has 6 neighbors, 2 of them in North Carolina. Among them, Unicoi County has the most homes with fiber (98.5%) and Avery County, NC the fewest (53.2%); Carter County has 86.6%.
Map of Carter County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Carter County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County (this page) | 56,356 | 86.6% | 2,380 Mbps | 5.9 | B | 39/100 |
| Sullivan County | 158,163 | 91.1% | 2,310 Mbps | 6.6 | B | 55/100 |
| Washington County | 133,001 | 89.0% | 8,467 Mbps | 7.2 | A- | 59/100 |
| Johnson County | 17,948 | 68.5% | 1,736 Mbps | 5.2 | C+ | 42/100 |
| Unicoi County | 17,928 | 98.5% | 1,757 Mbps | 7 | B+ | 43/100 |
| Avery County, NC | 17,806 | 53.2% | 1,151 Mbps | 5.2 | C | 37/100 |
| Mitchell County, NC | 14,903 | 95.8% | 983 Mbps | 8.5 | B | 33/100 |
Internet in Carter County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 54.8% of homes in Watauga to 96.2% in Hampton; by ZIP code, from 62.6% in 37694 (Watauga) to 95.5% in 37658 (Hampton). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Carter County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethton | 36,674 | 87.3% | 2,277 Mbps | 6.3 | B | 44/100 |
| Hampton | 4,575 | 96.2% | 1,966 Mbps | 5 | B- | 15/100 |
| Roan Mountain | 4,094 | 78.1% | 1,780 Mbps | 3.8 | C | 45/100 |
| Watauga | 1,633 | 54.8% | 1,545 Mbps | 5.5 | C+ | 46/100 |
| Gap Creek | 1,063 | 82.9% | 1,867 Mbps | 6.7 | B | 47/100 |
| Hunter | 800 | 100.0% | 2,000 Mbps | 6 | B+ | 64/100 |
| Carter | 602 | 83.7% | 1,837 Mbps | 6.3 | B- | 41/100 |
| Buladeen | 269 | 2.6% | 1,000 Mbps | 4.5 | D+ | 40/100 |
| Cove Creek | 258 | 1.9% | 1,019 Mbps | 2.9 | D | 39/100 |
| Little Milligan | 104 | 58.6% | 1,617 Mbps | 3.5 | C- | 31/100 |
| Poga | 101 | 50.5% | 1,505 Mbps | 2.7 | C- | 18/100 |
| Elk Mills | 60 | 100.0% | 2,000 Mbps | 3.5 | B- | 18/100 |
| Fish Springs | 53 | 60.4% | 1,661 Mbps | 2.3 | C- | 18/100 |
ZIP codes in Carter County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37643 (Elizabethton) | 33,793 | 86.9% | 1,879 Mbps | 6.1 | B- | 44/100 |
| 37687 (Roan Mountain) | 4,618 | 73.4% | 1,727 Mbps | 3.7 | C | 42/100 |
| 37658 (Hampton) | 4,075 | 95.5% | 1,964 Mbps | 4.8 | B- | 14/100 |
| 37694 (Watauga) | 1,884 | 62.6% | 1,624 Mbps | 5.5 | C+ | 50/100 |
| 37682 (Elizabethton) | 389 | 2.3% | 2,000 Mbps | 5.1 | C- | 70/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Carter County?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by T-Mobile Home Internet. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, Brightspeed should have faster speeds at a local level. While we typically put more weight on real-world customer ratings, we display both satisfaction and technical maximum information for customers to decide for themselves.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Carter County
| BrightRidge | 10,000 |
|---|---|
| Brightspeed | 2,000 |
| SkyLine Membership | 2,000 |
| XFINITY from Comcast | 1,200 |
| Spectrum | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| AT&T | 100 |
| EarthLink | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Carter County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Carter County Internet Providers
Based on 184 reviews from Tennessee internet customers, T-Mobile Home Internet is the best internet service provider for Carter County residents. T-Mobile Home Internet was rated at an average of 4.33 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. Brightspeed wins for second-place in Tennessee, with 4.50 out of 5 stars and 98.3% coverage in Carter County.
At a national level, based on 6639 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.02 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Carter County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Carter County, Tennessee, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Carter County Overall | Tennessee Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrightRidge |  (0) |  (8) | (8) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (6) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (2) |  (76) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (39) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (35) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (0) | (84) | (2379) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) |  (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| SkyLine Membership | (0) | (0) | (3) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Carter County
Based on data reported by Carter County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through Brightspeed. The company offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps in Carter County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,700 Mbps if they’re willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
However, actual customers rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with T-Mobile Home Internet. This indicates T-Mobile Home Internet reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Carter County Speed | Tennessee Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (6) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| BrightRidge | (0) | (8) | (8) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (35) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (0) | (84) | (2379) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (2) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (39) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| SkyLine Membership | (0) | (0) | (3) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Carter County?
Of the providers in Carter County, customers rate T-Mobile Home Internet the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Carter County where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across Tennessee or the country. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
T-Mobile Home Internet is rated 4.33 out of 5 for price, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. Verizon is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 4.11 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Carter County, Tennessee, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Carter County
| ISP / Tech Type | Carter County Affordability | Tennessee Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (6) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| BrightRidge | (0) | (8) | (8) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (2) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (35) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (39) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (0) | (84) | (2379) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| SkyLine Membership | (0) | (0) | (3) | View Plans |
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Carter County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Carter County?
Brightspeed Fiber in Carter County, TN
Availability:
83.2%
Customer Rating:
(31)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
Brightspeed offers Fiber service to 83.2% of Carter County homes. Across the county, Brightspeed Fiber has speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
BrightRidge Fiber in Carter County, TN
Availability:
6.1%
Customer Rating:
(8)
Avg. Download Speed
10,000 Mbps
BrightRidge offers Fiber service to 6.1% of Carter County homes. Across the county, BrightRidge Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 10,000 Mbps
SkyLine Membership Fiber in Carter County, TN
Availability:
5.5%
Customer Rating:
(3)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
SkyLine Membership offers Fiber service to 5.5% of Carter County homes. Across the county, SkyLine Membership Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
Spectrum Fiber in Carter County, TN
Availability:
5.1%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 5.1% of Carter County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Carter County?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Carter County, TN
Availability:
94.6%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
74 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 94.6% of Carter County homes. Across the county, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 74 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 14 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Carter County, TN
Availability:
66.1%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 66.1% of Carter County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 3.1 Mbps throughout the county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Carter County, TN
Availability:
66.1%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 66.1% of Carter County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 3.1 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Carter County, TN
Availability:
66.0%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
269 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 66.0% of Carter County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 269 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 6.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 18 Mbps throughout the county.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Carter County?
Spectrum Cable in Carter County, TN
Availability:
81.9%
Customer Rating:
(1739)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 81.9% of Carter County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
XFINITY Cable in Carter County, TN
Availability:
29.0%
Customer Rating:
(2077)
Avg. Download Speed
1,200 Mbps
XFINITY from Comcast offers Cable service to 29.0% of Carter County homes. Across the county, XFINITY Cable is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,200 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Carter County?
Brightspeed DSL in Carter County, TN
Availability:
76.1%
Customer Rating:
(43)
Avg. Download Speed
38 Mbps
Brightspeed offers DSL service to 76.1% of Carter County homes. Across the county, Brightspeed DSL has speeds up to 38 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 140 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 3.9 Mbps throughout the county. Brightspeed DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Carter County from Brightspeed in terms of customer satisfaction.
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Tennessee
Customer Reviews
ISPReports User
TVEC Connect Fiber
November 03, 2026 Brian G
HolstonConnect Fiber
October 11, 2026 I pay for the medium service and I expect faster speeds but I'm getting a whole lot of latency when I try to watch FB or Youtube videos. And it's consistent. Might be time for a change.
Earl
Trilight Fiber
September 28, 2026 Trilight internet is excellent. If you ever have an issue a real person answers the phone at Tech Support. They work diligently to solve your problem and if it requires a service call they make the appointment right then. The service technicians, are competent and solve any problems quickly.
Duane M
EPB Power Fiber
September 25, 2026 glitchy and lacks the power that EPB promised
Bill O
KUB Fiber
August 28, 2026 I have had KUB fiber for a little over a year. I live up in the mountains and could not get fiber from another vendor. One major national vendor said they would connect me, but it would cost $6000 because my house is surrounded by concrete patios and a driveway they would have to drill under. So, I ended up going with Starlink. Starlink was OK, but because I live in a forest, sometime getting a good view of the sky was a problem. Then, finally, KUB offered fiber to my area. They connected me for free, even with the obstacles. The service has been great, with almost no interruptions (there have been rare short scheduled maintenance periods), and the speed is 5 to 10 times faster than Starlink at about half the price. On rare occasions I've had tech questions (I run my my own router, mailserver, and nameservice) , support has been great.
Rate your provider
Share your experience to help others in your area choose.
Verified customer: we detected your connection is on this provider.
Reviews are independent and unedited. Published after a quick spam check.
Which ISP Should You Choose in Carter County?
The right ISP for you depends upon your needs, but in general we can make the following suggestions:
- The best all-around internet service provider in Carter County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- The fastest internet provider should be Brightspeed. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, T-Mobile Home Internet may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Carter County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- Viasat, HughesNet, and Brightspeed has the broadest coverage in Carter County, available to 98.3% of homes, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what’s available at your home, please use our address search tool.