16 Best Internet Providers in Howard County, NE
Find internet availability by address in Howard County, NE
Jump to: Best Internet Provider | Availability Maps | Customer Reviews | Howard County ISP Report Card | Business Internet in Howard County
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Howard County ISP Report Card | C |
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Download Speed for Most Households | 1,088 Mbps |
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Number of Internet Service Providers | 16 |
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Real Howard County Customer Ratings | 0 |
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from January 06, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of June 30, 2025.
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from January 06, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of June 30, 2025.
Howard County has 16 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, and DSL 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 Howard County.
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Howard County has 16 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, and DSL 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 Howard County.
Compare Providers Ranked by Coverage, Speed, and Customer Ratings
Centurylink
Connection
Customer Rating
DSL
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Cable
Hamilton Telecommunications
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Quantum Fiber
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Above are the top 4 providers in Howard County, NE for most people based on high speed internet coverage, speeds, and customer reviews. Click below to see all providers in your county.
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 Howard County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Howard County, NE?
Great Plains Communications is the best internet provider in Howard County based on Nebraska customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, Great Plains Communications had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in Howard County, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. Unfortunately, Great Plains Communications is an option for 3.06% of the county.
The chart and table below show average customer ratings from customers in Howard County, Nebraska, and customers throughout the country.
Top Rated Internet Providers in Howard County
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Howard County Internet Providers
| ISP / Tech Type | Howard County Overall | Nebraska Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Plains Communications | (0) |  (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (1) | (42) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (1) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (2) |  (924) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (5) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| Hamilton | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (0) |  (4) | (163) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) |  (1) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (0) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (11) | View Plans | ||
| KDSI | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Viaero | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Hamilton Telecommunications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Prairie Hills Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Based on 17 reviews from Nebraska internet customers, Great Plains Communications is the best internet service provider for Howard County residents. Great Plains Communications was rated at an average of 5.00 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in Nebraska, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 1.1% coverage in Howard County.
At a national level, based on 3952 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, Hamilton Telecommunications is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 3.00 out of 5.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Howard County?
a different provider.
Internet Availability Key
Speeds and coverage vary within the county, and sometimes even from block to block. The map shows speeds per provider and where each provider is available.
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Howard County?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings in Howard County, the fastest internet in the county comes from Quantum Fiber.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Howard County
| ISP / Tech Type | Max Advertised Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber | 3,000 Mbps | ||
| Great Plains Communications | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Prairie Hills Wireless | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Viaero Wireless | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Hamilton Telecommunications (formerly NCTC) | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Spectrum | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Verizon | 300 Mbps | ||
| GigFire | 150 Mbps | ||
| AT&T | 100 Mbps | ||
| EarthLink | 100 Mbps | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 Mbps | ||
| Centurylink | 100 Mbps | ||
| Viasat | 100 Mbps | ||
| KDSI | 50 Mbps | ||
| Rise Broadband | 50 Mbps | ||
| HughesNet | 25 Mbps | ||
| US Cellular | 25 Mbps | ||
| Hamilton Telecommunications | 10 Mbps |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Howard County
| ISP / Tech Type | Howard County Speed | Nebraska Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (1) | (42) | View Plans | ||
| Great Plains Communications | (0) |  (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (5) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (1) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| Hamilton | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (2) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (0) | (4) | (163) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (0) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (11) | View Plans | ||
| KDSI | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Viaero | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Hamilton Telecommunications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Prairie Hills Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Based on data reported by Howard County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through Quantum Fiber. The company offers speeds up to 3,000 Mbps in Howard County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 3,000 Mbps if they're willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
However, actual customers in the county rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Quantum Fiber. This indicates Quantum Fiber reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Howard County?
Nebraska customers rate Great Plains Communications as the cheapest internet service provider in state. Data comes from customers in the state rating their satisfaction with pricing. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
Great Plains Communications received a local rating of 4.50 out of 5, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. Quantum Fiber is rated in second place for affordability by the company’s Howard County customers with an average price rating of 4.00 out of 5.
The chart and graph below show how customers in Howard County, Nebraska, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Howard County
| ISP / Tech Type | Howard County Affordability | Nebraska Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Plains Communications | (0) | (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (1) | (42) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (2) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (5) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (1) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (0) | (4) | (163) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Hamilton | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (0) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (11) | View Plans | ||
| KDSI | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Viaero | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Hamilton Telecommunications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Prairie Hills Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Howard County Internet Health Assessment
ISP Reports evaluates the technological infrastructure across the United States. This includes assessing a grade for ISP providers and infrastructure in the county and setting an index number for the digital connectivity of its residents. You can view the ISP Report Card and the Digital Connectivity Index for Howard County below, including the metrics used and how Howard County compares to the rest of Nebraska and nation.
| Metric
(hover for details)
|
Howard County | Nebraska | USA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber Availability Percent The percentage of households in Howard County that have a Fiber internet connection available to their home. | 37.45% | 80.93% | 67.25% | ||
| Average Download SpeedThe maximum download speed most households can get on average. This is measured by availability in a block group and weighted by the population in that area. | 1,088 Mbps | 2,206 Mbps | 3,293 Mbps | ||
| Provider CountThe number of providers available for most people. This is a weighted average by block rather than a total for Howard County. | 5.0 | 7.7 | 6.8 |
| Average Household SizeA larger household size in a county indicates that there will be a greater need for bandwidth due to simultaneous usage, multiple devices, and network congestion. | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.7 | ||
| Work From Home PercentA higher percent of the population working from home indicates bandwidth requirements being more widely needed rather than consolidated to commercial portions of the city. | 8% | 10% | 14% | ||
| Households with DevicesA higher percentage of households with computing devices in the home indicates a higher level of infrastructure needed to support those households. | 89% | 95% | 95% | ||
| Households with InternetA higher percentage of households with internet indicates a higher need for usage and connectivity in people’s daily lives. | 82% | 90% | 90% | ||
| Households with BroadbandA higher percentage of households with a broadband connection (defined as speeds above 25 Mbps) indicates heavier usage needs within these households. | 47% | 75% | 75% | ||
| Broadband Usage vs. AvailabilityThis measures what percentage of households who have a broadband connection to their home actually have an active subscription to that service. | 49% | 76% | 76% |
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
Howard County ISP Report Card & Digital Connectivity Index
The ISP Report Card in Howard County is C, which is worse than other counties. The local demand for broadband internet connectivity in Howard County is high with a score of 32 / 100 in our Digital Connectivity Index. This means that internet service providers operating in Howard County have done a poor job meeting the needs of its residents.
The Howard County ISP Report Card evaluates the county on availability and speed metrics compared to other counties in the United States. ISP Infrastructure can vary greatly and on its own isn’t a perfect measure of what a county needs. Please see our ISP Report Card along with the Digital Connectivity Index above to evaluate how well the connectivity demand is met by the existing infrastructure.
82% of Howard County households have an internet connection despite having 98.75% availability. 47% of households have fiber, cable, or DSL, 15% have satellite, 1% are still on dial-up, and 3% of households have internet but don’t pay for a subscription because it’s subsidized by the Affordable Connectivity Program.
As you can see in the table above, while 47% of households have a broadband connection such as fiber, cable or DSL available to their home, 49% subscribe to it. A low number of Howard County residents are taking advantage of the available internet infrastructure.
For more details, please visit our ISP Report Card and Digital Connectivity Index pages.
How do Neighboring Counties Compare to Howard County?
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 37 / 100
- ISP Report Card: D+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 18 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 41 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 39 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 59 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 44 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 73 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 83 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 52 / 100
How Much Speed does a Howard County Household Need?
Higher speed is typically preferred, but that comes at a higher price. The average size of a household in Howard County is 2.6, which is larger than the Nebraska average of 2.5 and smaller than the national average of 2.7. Howard County's average household income is $70,657 which is about average for the Nebraska average of $84,618 and about average for the national average of $90,606. Homes with more people living in them and with lower incomes tend to indicate a fairly average device usage pattern.
Howard County also has 14% of its population enrolled in school between the 6th grade and college level, this is lower than the Nebraska average of 17%. Additionally, 8% of residents work from home, which is lower than the 10% of residents in Nebraska who work from home. This and other factors you can see above show us that the community of Howard County has a low need for internet connectivity and speeds.
Compared to the rest of the country, Howard County households are more technology-disengaged. 89% of households have some sort of computing device, 75% have desktops or laptops in the home, and 84% have smartphones. To see what speeds you are currently getting, please visit our internet speed test tool.
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Howard County?
Hamilton Telecommunications Fiber in Howard County, NE
Availability:
23.7%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Hamilton Telecommunications (formerly NCTC) offers Fiber service to 23.7% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Hamilton Telecommunications Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Quantum Fiber in Howard County, NE
Availability:
12.1%
Customer Rating:
(47)
Avg. Download Speed
3,000 Mbps
Quantum Fiber offers Fiber service to 12.1% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Quantum Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 3,000 Mbps
Great Plains Communications Fiber in Howard County, NE
Availability:
2.1%
Customer Rating:
(2)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Great Plains Communications offers Fiber service to 2.1% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Great Plains Communications Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Howard County?
Spectrum Cable in Howard County, NE
Availability:
42.1%
Customer Rating:
(1,618)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 42.1% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Cable is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Howard County?
Centurylink DSL in Howard County, NE
Availability:
63.7%
Customer Rating:
(101)
Avg. Download Speed
58 Mbps
Centurylink offers DSL service to 63.7% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Centurylink DSL is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 58 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 40, with an average of 6.1 Mbps throughout the county.
Hamilton Telecommunications DSL in Howard County, NE
Availability:
2.5%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
20 Mbps
Hamilton Telecommunications (formerly NCTC) offers DSL service to 2.5% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Hamilton Telecommunications DSL has speeds up to 20 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 25 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 3.0, with an average of 2.3 Mbps throughout the county.
Great Plains Communications DSL in Howard County, NE
Availability:
1.5%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
10 Mbps
Great Plains Communications offers DSL service to 1.5% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Great Plains Communications DSL has speeds up to 10 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Howard County?
US Cellular Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
91.8%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
19 Mbps
US Cellular offers Fixed Wireless service to 91.8% of Howard County homes. Across the county, US Cellular Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 19 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 25 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 3.0, with an average of 2.2 Mbps throughout the county.
Hamilton Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
68.0%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
10 Mbps
Hamilton Telecommunications offers Fixed Wireless service to 68.0% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Hamilton Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 10 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
62.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
70 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 62.4% of Howard 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 70 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 13 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
51.0%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
300 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 51.0% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 300 Mbps
Viaero Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
16.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
127 Mbps
Viaero Wireless offers Fixed Wireless service to 16.4% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Viaero Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 127 Mbps, with speeds from 100 Mpbs up to 150 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 5.0 and as high as 40, with an average of 24 Mbps throughout the county.
Prairie Hills Wireless Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
16.0%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Prairie Hills Wireless offers Fixed Wireless service to 16.0% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Prairie Hills Wireless Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
15.3%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
27 Mbps
Rise Broadband offers Fixed Wireless service to 15.3% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 27 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 50 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 5.0 and as high as 10, with an average of 5.5 Mbps throughout the county.
GigFire Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
14.5%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
145 Mbps
GigFire offers Fixed Wireless service to 14.5% of Howard County homes. Across the county, GigFire Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 145 Mbps, with speeds from 100 Mpbs up to 150 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 20 and as high as 130, with an average of 119 Mbps throughout the county.
KDSI Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
7.2%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
28 Mbps
KDSI offers Fixed Wireless service to 7.2% of Howard County homes. Across the county, KDSI Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 28 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 50 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 5.0, with an average of 3.7 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
1.1%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
100 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 1.1% of Howard County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 100 Mbps
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Howard County, NE
Availability:
1.1%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
100 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 1.1% of Howard County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 100 Mbps
Which ISP Should You Choose in Howard 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 Howard County is Great Plains Communications.
- The fastest internet provider should be Quantum Fiber. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Quantum Fiber may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Howard County is Great Plains Communications.
- Viasat, US Cellular, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Howard County, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what's available at your home, please use our address search tool.
How does Howard County compare to other cities with a similar population?
To see how Howard County stacks up on the national level, it's useful to look at some other cities with similarly sized populations. Below you can see a list of these cities and how they compare to Howard County's C ISP Report Card and 32 / 100 Digital Connectivity Index.
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 27 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 60 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 71 / 100
- ISP Report Card: D-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 37 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 78 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 43 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 60 / 100
- ISP Report Card: D+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 48 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 61 / 100