Frequently Asked Questions

PlainBroadband uses data from the FCC Form 477 broadband deployment dataset. This is the official federal data collection program that requires all broadband providers in the U.S. to report where they offer service. Our current data covers 2,142 providers across 56 states and territories.

The FCC collects Form 477 data twice per year, with reporting dates of June 30 and December 31. We refresh our database within 4 weeks of each new data release from the FCC.

Yes, PlainBroadband is completely free. All our data comes from publicly available FCC records. We don't require registration, subscriptions, or payment.

Our data comes directly from the FCC with no modifications. However, FCC Form 477 data has known limitations: providers may overstate coverage at the census block level, and speeds are maximum advertised speeds rather than measured speeds. The FCC is transitioning to a more granular Broadband Data Collection system. For the most current data, check the FCC directly at fcc.gov.

Records represent individual broadband deployment filings by providers at the census block level. One record typically means one provider offers one technology type in one census block. A provider serving 1,000 blocks with cable internet would have 1,000 records. Record counts are not subscriber counts — they measure the breadth of a provider's coverage footprint.

PlainBroadband shows data at the state and provider level. For address-specific availability, use the FCC Broadband Map at broadbandmap.fcc.gov or check directly with providers. Our state pages can help you identify which providers operate in your area.

Fiber uses light through glass strands for the fastest speeds (1-10 Gbps). Cable uses coaxial TV cable for solid speeds (100 Mbps-1 Gbps) but with slower uploads. DSL uses copper phone lines with speeds up to about 100 Mbps. See our technology comparison guide for a detailed breakdown.

Fixed wireless licensed has over 32 million FCC deployment records because satellite and wireless providers can cover large geographic areas (many census blocks) without running physical cable to each location. A single tower can file coverage for hundreds of census blocks. This does not mean fixed wireless has the most subscribers — it means these providers have filed the most coverage claims with the FCC.