ISP Reports Methodology
ISP Reports was created to bring accountability to internet service providers and better consumer data to internet shoppers. Our goal is to publish accurate, transparent information about internet availability, speeds, and customer satisfaction – so you can make an informed decision based on what’s actually available where you live (or work).
This methodology page explains:
- Where our ISP data comes from
- How we define "availability," "speed," and "ratings"
- How provider lists and "best / fastest / cheapest" callouts are determined
- How often we update our data
- Why a provider might not appear
- Important limitations to keep in mind
This methodology page is designed to work hand‑in‑hand with our Advertiser Disclosure page.
- This page explains data and decisions (sources, definitions, calculations, rankings, update cadence, limitations, and corrections).
- The Advertiser Disclosure page explains money and incentives (affiliate commissions and sponsored placements).
Table of contents
- Data sources
- Geographic precision
- Key definitions
- How we rank and display providers
- How "Best," "Fastest," and "Cheapest" are determined
- Customer reviews and ratings
- ISP Report Card, Digital Connectivity Index, and Internet Health Assessment
- Update schedule and "data last updated"
- Why a provider might not appear
- Limitations and important context
- Address privacy
- Questions, corrections, and feedback
Data sources
FCC broadband availability and speed data
We use the most recent data submitted to the FCC as the core source for our availability and speed reporting. This data is used throughout ISP Reports for provider availability, coverage breakdowns by technology, and maximum advertised speed metrics.
US Census Bureau and American Community Survey (ACS) data
For our Internet Health Assessment and related indices, we incorporate US Census Bureau data and ACS (American Community Survey) data to measure digital connectivity characteristics of residents (e.g., household and usage indicators) alongside infrastructure metrics.
Customer reviews and satisfaction survey
ISP Reports includes customer ratings and written reviews collected via an extensive survey carried out by third‑party surveyors. Participants are not incentivized for or against any brand and are not coached, screened, or filtered. We also verify the type of technology used for a customer’s service, so ratings can be compared across connection types (fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, etc.).
Plans and pricing (where shown)
Some provider pages include plans and pricing tables. Where those plan tables include "typical" speeds, those are provider-reported plan expectations. Speed metrics elsewhere on ISP Reports focus on maximum available performance and availability distribution across locations.
Geographic precision
Address-level results (most precise)
Our address lookup is designed to show the providers and speeds that are actually available at a specific address – rather than relying on zip-code assumptions. With block‑group data at its core, the address lookup is substantially more precise than zip‑code estimates.
When you use the address tool, we map availability at the U.S. Census block level so you see the ISPs that serve your immediate neighborhood – not everyone in a broader city or zip area.
City and zip-code results (broader)
City and zip-code searches show providers across a larger area (your entire city or zip). Because service areas can vary from block to block, broader searches can include providers that don’t serve every address in that geography.
On many location pages, we provide maps and coverage visuals specifically because speeds and availability can vary within a city or zip – and sometimes from block to block.
Key definitions
Availability / coverage
"Availability" represents how widely a provider’s service is available in a given geography. Depending on the page, availability may be presented as a percentage of:
- People covered
- Homes covered
- Households with access
We use the on-page context to define the denominator (for example, provider availability pages may describe "people covered," while report-card metrics may reference "households").
Speed metrics on ISP Reports
You may see different speed labels depending on the tool and page type:
On provider comparison tables (city/zip/neighborhood/business pages):
- Avg. Download Speed: The highest download speed available in that location (as labeled on the table tooltip).
- Max Download Speed / Weighted Max Download Speed: Calculated from the maximum speeds available to most residents, weighted by user distribution.
On ISP Report Cards and Internet Health Assessments:
- Average Download Speed: The maximum download speed most households can get on average, measured by availability in a block group and weighted by population.
On provider plan tables (where shown):
- Typical speeds: Provider-reported expectations for that plan tier. These are presented separately from availability/speed metrics elsewhere on the site.
Customer ratings
Customer ratings are based on survey responses and reviews. Ratings may appear at multiple geographic levels (local, state, and national), and often include breakouts by connection type.
Affordability ("cheapest")
On many location pages, "cheapest" is based on customer satisfaction with pricing/affordability. This is useful because it can reflect real-world factors like pricing changes and whether customers feel they’re getting value for what they pay.
How we rank and display providers
Provider ordering on local pages
On many neighborhood, city, zip code, and business pages, providers are presented in a sorted order based on:
- Coverage / availability in the location
- Available speed metrics
- Customer rating
"Top providers" vs. "all providers"
Some pages highlight a short list of top providers for "most people." In those cases, providers with very small coverage may be excluded from the shortened list. If a provider isn’t shown in the short list, the address lookup is the best way to confirm whether that provider is available at a specific location.
Satellite providers in rankings
Satellite providers can appear differently depending on the context:
- On some national "top provider" lists, satellite providers are excluded because they’re rarely the best option for most people.
- On some business location pages, satellite providers are shown separately because they generally have universal coverage.
How "Best," "Fastest," and "Cheapest" are determined
Best provider
"Best" recommendations emphasize customer satisfaction and reviews. Where applicable, we compare ratings at the local, state, and national levels and recommend providers that stand out in customer satisfaction among providers with reviews.
Fastest provider
"Fastest" is presented using two complementary lenses:
- Customer speed satisfaction (what customers report being happiest with)
- Maximum advertised speed data (what providers report to the FCC as the maximum available)
We display both satisfaction and technical maximum information so customers can decide what matters most for their situation.
Cheapest provider
"Cheapest" is based on customer affordability/pricing satisfaction. This feedback can reflect whether customers feel their speed and service are worth the cost, including the effects of price changes over time.
Customer reviews and ratings
ISP Reports publishes customer ratings and reviews so you can compare real experiences, not just advertised speeds. We emphasize transparency by showing reviews and ratings in a way that’s readable and comparable – often by provider and by technology type.
Because ratings can vary widely by geography and technology type, many pages show national ratings alongside state and local ratings (when enough local feedback exists).
ISP Report Card, Digital Connectivity Index, and Internet Health Assessment
ISP Report Card
Our ISP Report Card evaluates infrastructure strength using FCC-reported ISP data. The grade is based on components including:
- Provider Count: How many provider options are available (as a competitiveness signal)
- Fiber Availability: Percent of households with access to a fiber connection
- Download Speed: A weighted maximum approach intended to reflect what most people can access—not just peak speeds
Digital Connectivity Index
The Digital Connectivity Index uses US Census Bureau data to assess how much broadband connectivity a location likely needs. Components include:
- Average household size
- Work-from-home percent
- Households with devices
- Households with internet
- Households with broadband (defined as 25 Mbps or greater)
- Broadband usage vs. availability
Internet Health Assessment
ISP Reports releases an Internet Health Assessment for locations across the country (cities, counties, zip codes, and states). It combines ISP infrastructure metrics with digital connectivity metrics to provide a more balanced view of overall "internet health."
Update schedule and "data last updated"
We update as soon as possible after each FCC release, with two major updates typically occurring around June and December, plus smaller updates throughout the year.
Many pages on ISP Reports include a "Data last updated" label. Where shown, this label identifies the date of the update and often references the relevant FCC update and the Broadband Data Collection "as of" date.
Why a provider might not appear
We aim to include providers of all sizes – large national providers and smaller local providers. However, a provider might not appear on a given page for reasons such as:
- Inactive providers: We do not list providers that are no longer in business.
- Verification limitations: Resellers or smaller-footprint providers may not appear if availability footprints can’t be confirmed.
- Provider-requested removal: In some cases, providers may request removal (for example, due to outdated data or poor reviews). If a provider requests removal, we remove that provider from ISP Reports entirely (including provider pages and location-based listings).
If a provider is missing from a broader city/zip list, the address lookup is the best way to confirm what the FCC data reports for your exact location.
Limitations and important context
No broadband dataset is perfect, and availability can change quickly. Keep in mind:
- Speed and technology can vary by address. Even within the same city or zip, results can vary block to block.
- Maximum advertised speeds are not guaranteed speeds. Real-world performance depends on network conditions, plan tier, in-home equipment, congestion, and other factors.
- Plan pricing and "typical" speeds can change. Always confirm final pricing and details with the provider.
- Ratings reflect customer experience. Local ratings can differ from national averages, and satisfaction may vary by technology type.
We focus on transparency by showing what the data indicates and giving you multiple ways to validate what’s available – especially via address-level lookup.
Address privacy
If you use our address tool, your full address is used only to look up block-level ISP data. It is never shared or sold.
Questions, corrections, and feedback
Have feedback about our data or tools? Visit our Contact page to reach our team.