Schley, Stewart

Yassini, Rouzbeh

English

University of New Hampshire

Broadband Center of Excellence
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Broadband Center of Excellence
8-1-2014
U.S. Fixed Broadband Access: A Statistical Portrait
Stewart Schley
University of New Hampshire
Rouzbeh Yassini
University of New Hampshire, Rouzbeh.Yassini@unh.edu
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/bcoe
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in
Broadband Center of Excellence by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please
contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Schley, Stewart and Yassini, Rouzbeh, "U.S. Fixed Broadband Access: A Statistical Portrait" (2014). Broadband Center of Excellence. 40.
https://scholars.unh.edu/bcoe/40
HHs without fixed
broadband available:
7 million
HHs with fixed
broadband
available:
109 million
Do not
subscribe to a
fixed broadband
service: 30 million
94% 74%
6%
26%
Subscribe to a
fixed broadband
service:
86 million
A UNH BROADBAND CENTER INTELLIGENCE REPORT
August 2014
EDITOR: Stewart Schley, Content Director, UNH Broadband Center of Excellence
SPONSOR: Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini, Executive Director, UNH Broadband Center of Excellence
Key findings:
We believe roughly 94% of U.S. households (HHs) have access to a fixed
(or wired) broadband network capable of delivering downstream data at
3 Mbps or faster, and roughly 74% of U.S. homes actually subscribe to a fixed
broadband service as of August 2014.
26% of U.S. homes currently do not use a fixed broadband service. (This is not
to say this subset does not receive broadband at all; individuals within these
homes may use a cellular broadband service or a satellite broadband service.)
Of the 26% of homes without a fixed broadband service, 20% don’t have a
choice — these homes represent the 6% of total U.S. homes located outside of
the range of a fixed broadband network.
This information will be updated as new findings are published.
NOTE: “Fixed” broadband refers to a physical delivery network such as a fiber optic, cable or digital
subscriber line (DSL) network. Wireless broadband networks including cellular and/or satellite services are
excluded from these statistics.
Fixed broadband
access in the U.S.:
a statistical portrait
Total U.S. occupied HHs: 116 million Among total U.S. HHs…
SOURCES: U.S. Census Bureau (U.S. occupied housing units, from Occupancy Status, Universe: Housing Units,
2012); Pew Research Internet Project (subscriptions to residential broadband networks, from Home
Broadband 2013, published August 2013); U.S. National Telecommunications & Information Administration
(fixed broadband access data, from U.S. Broadband Availability, June 2010-June 2012, published May 2013;
and Household Broadband Adoption Climbs to 72.4 Percent, published June 2013).
Research odds, ends and observations: The data above are a blend of the recent and the
older. The Pew Internet data about fixed broadband access comes from an August
2013 survey, for example, whereas the most recent NTIA report on broadband access is
based on findings collected in June 2012. As a result, our findings represent a blended
“best guess” estimate, but almost certainly do not reflect the current status of fixed
broadband availability to an exacting measure. A second research challenge to keep in
mind in evaluating broadband access data is the difference between reports based on
households versus those based on population (such as the FCC Broadband Progress
Report). In our view, households present the more valuable indicator of broadband’s
reach and influence, given that, first, we are attempting to determine residential
broadband presence; and second, while many Americans rely on public institutions
such as schools, libraries and community centers to attain a broadband connection, in
our view it is the presence of an always-available broadband connection in the home
that we believe conveys the fuller range of broadband capabilities and influence.
If you’re aware of sources for more recent and/or more accurate data, we’d love to hear
from you. Please drop us a note to research@UNHBCoE.org, mentioning the title of
this report. And thanks for sharing.
Do not subscribe
to a fixed broadband
service: 23 million
Cannot receive fixed
broadband even if
they want it: 6 million
79% 80%
21% 20%
Can receive fixed
broadband, but
choose not to:
24 million
Subscribe to a
fixed broadband
service:
86 million
Among HHs with fixed
broadband available…
Among HHs that do not subscribe
to a fixed broadband service…


U.S. Fixed Broadband Access: A Statistical Portrait

UNH Scholars' Repository

Broadband Center of ExcellenceUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryBroadband Center of Excellence8-1-2014U.S. Fixed Broadband Access: A Statistical PortraitStewart SchleyUniversity of New HampshireRouzbeh YassiniUniversity of New Hampshire, Rouzbeh.Yassini@unh.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/bcoeThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion inBroadband Center of Excellence by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, pleasecontact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationSchley, Stewart and Yassini, Rouzbeh, "U.S. Fixed Broadband Access: A Statistical Portrait" (2014). Broadband Center of Excellence. 40.https://scholars.unh.edu/bcoe/40HHs without fixedbroadband available:7 millionHHs with fixedbroadbandavailable:109 millionDo notsubscribe to afixed broadbandservice: 30 million94% 74%6%26%Subscribe to afixed broadbandservice:86 millionA UNH BROADBAND CENTER INTELLIGENCE REPORTAugust 2014EDITOR: Stewart Schley, Content Director, UNH Broadband Center of ExcellenceSPONSOR: Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini, Executive Director, UNH Broadband Center of ExcellenceKey findings:We believe roughly 94% of U.S. households (HHs) have access to a ﬁxed(or wired) broadband network capable of delivering downstream data at3 Mbps or faster, and roughly 74% of U.S. homes actually subscribe to a ﬁxedbroadband service as of August 2014.26% of U.S. homes currently do not use a ﬁxed broadband service. (This is notto say this subset does not receive broadband at all; individuals within thesehomes may use a cellular broadband service or a satellite broadband service.)Of the 26% of homes without a ﬁxed broadband service, 20% don’t have achoice — these homes represent the 6% of total U.S. homes located outside ofthe range of a ﬁxed broadband network.This information will be updated as new ﬁndings are published.NOTE: “Fixed” broadband refers to a physical delivery network such as a fiber optic, cable or digitalsubscriber line (DSL) network. Wireless broadband networks including cellular and/or satellite services areexcluded from these statistics.Fixed broadbandaccess in the U.S.:a statistical portraitTotal U.S. occupied HHs: 116 million Among total U.S. HHs…SOURCES: U.S. Census Bureau (U.S. occupied housing units, from Occupancy Status, Universe: Housing Units,2012); Pew Research Internet Project (subscriptions to residential broadband networks, from HomeBroadband 2013, published August 2013); U.S. National Telecommunications & Information Administration(fixed broadband access data, from U.S. Broadband Availability, June 2010-June 2012, published May 2013;and Household Broadband Adoption Climbs to 72.4 Percent, published June 2013).Research odds, ends and observations: The data above are a blend of the recent and theolder. The Pew Internet data about ﬁxed broadband access comes from an August2013 survey, for example, whereas the most recent NTIA report on broadband access isbased on ﬁndings collected in June 2012. As a result, our ﬁndings represent a blended“best guess” estimate, but almost certainly do not reﬂect the current status of ﬁxedbroadband availability to an exacting measure. A second research challenge to keep inmind in evaluating broadband access data is the diﬀerence between reports based onhouseholds versus those based on population (such as the FCC Broadband ProgressReport). In our view, households present the more valuable indicator of broadband’sreach and inﬂuence, given that, ﬁrst, we are attempting to determine residentialbroadband presence; and second, while many Americans rely on public institutionssuch as schools, libraries and community centers to attain a broadband connection, inour view it is the presence of an always-available broadband connection in the homethat we believe conveys the fuller range of broadband capabilities and inﬂuence.If you’re aware of sources for more recent and/or more accurate data, we’d love to hearfrom you. Please drop us a note to research@UNHBCoE.org, mentioning the title ofthis report. And thanks for sharing.Do not subscribeto a fixed broadbandservice: 23 millionCannot receive fixedbroadband even ifthey want it: 6 million79% 80%21% 20%Can receive fixedbroadband, butchoose not to:24 millionSubscribe to afixed broadbandservice:86 millionAmong HHs with fixedbroadband available…Among HHs that do not subscribeto a fixed broadband service…

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U.S. Fixed Broadband Access: A Statistical Portrait

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