The State of American Internet

Paul Lapointe
Data Visualization, PPOL 646
May 4, 2015

List of Figures

Figure 1:

Broadband Penetration Among OECD Countries: 2003 - 2013

Figure 2:

Broadband Usage Among OECD Countries, 2010

Figure 3:

Median Broadband Speed Among OECD Countries, 2012

Figure 4:

Average and Peak Speeds Among OECD Countries, 2014

Figure 5:

Broadband Measure OECD Comparison

Figure 6:

Change in Availability of Different Internet Technologies within the

United States, 2011 and 2014

Figure 7:

Access to Internet Technologies by State, 2013

Figure 8:

State-Level Correlations in Demographics and Access to 25 Mbps

Download Speed, 2014

Figure 9:

Average Number of Fixed Internet Providers, by County, 2014

Figure 10:

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised Download Speeds

of 1.5 Megabytes per Second or Greater

Figure 11:

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised Download Speeds

of 3 Megabytes per Second or Greater

Figure 12:

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised Download Speeds

of 6 Megabytes per Second or Greater

Figure 13:

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised Download Speeds

of 10 Megabytes per Second or Greater

Figure 14:

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised Download Speeds

of 25 Megabytes per Second or Greater

Figure 15:

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised Download Speeds

of 100 Megabytes per Second or Greater

Figure 16:

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised Download Speeds

of 1 Gigabyte per Second or Greater

FigureE1

Broadband Penetration Among OECD Countries:

2003 - 2013
WhileEtheEUnitedEStatesEhasEseenEaEsignificantEincreaseEinEbroadbandEpenetrationEinErecentEears,EitEremainsEonlyE
slightlyEaboveEtheEtotalEforEOECDEcountriesEandElagsEfarEbehindEtheEOECDEleader,ESwitzerland.

50

Broadband
subscriptions
perE100
inhabitants1 40

Switzerland

United States

30

OECD Total
20

10

0
2004

2006

1PriorEtoE2009,EwirelessElinesEwereEincluded;
sinceE2009,EonlyEfixedElinesEhaveEbeenEincluded.

2008

2010

2012

Source:EOECDEBroadbandEPortal

FigureW2

Broadband Usage Among OECD Countries, 2010

TheWbelowWchartWshowsWtheWpercentWofWhouseholdsWwithWinternetWaccessWforWOECDWcountriesWinW2010.WWhileWtheW
UnitedWStatesWisWinWtheWtopWhalfWofWcountries,WitWlagsWwellWbehindWmanyWpeerWcountries.

96.8%

Korea
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Netherlands
Switzerland
Finland
Germany
Canada
Australia
Luxembourg
Belgium

68.2%

United States

Israel
France
Estonia
Austria
Japan
Slovenia
Ireland
Spain
Poland
CzechARepublic
Hungary
Portugal
SlovakARepublic
Italy
Greece
Turkey
Mexico

20

40

60

80

100

PercentWofWhouseholdsWwithWinternetWaccess
Source:WOECDWBroadbandWPortal

FigureM3

Median Broadband Speed Among OECD Countries, 2012

TheMbelowMchartMshowsMtheMmedianMbroadbandMdownloadMspeedsMforMallMOECDMcountriesMasMofM2012MinMMegabytesMperM
second.MTheMUnitedMStatesMfallsMslightlyMbelowMtheMOECDMaverageMandMwellMbehindMinternetMleadersMlikeMSouthMKoreaMandM
theMNetherlands.MAdvocatesMforMgreaterMgovernmentMinvolvementMinMtheMinternetMmarketMoftenMpointMtoMtheseMnumbersM
whenMclaimingMthatMtheMUnitedMStatesMisMatMriskMofMlosingMitsMtechnologicalMadvantage.

80

75

60

40

20.5

20

16.9

es
at
St

U
ni
t

EC
O

ed

or
e

To
ta

0
K

Download
SpeedMin
Megabytes
Per
Second

Source:MOECDMBroadbandMPortal

FigureC4

Average and Peak Speeds Among OECD Countries, 2014

TheCbelowCchartCshowsCtheCaverageCandCpeakCspeedCforCOECDCcountriesCaccordingCtoCAkamaixsCLM*4CStateCofCtheC
InternetCreport,CSomeCexpertsCargueCthatCtheCOECDCBroadbandCPortalCmeasuresCBfigureC3PCdisplayCinaccurateC
comparisons)CsinceCtheyCareCbasedConCdataCasCreportedCbyCmemberCcountries)CandCthatCAkamaiCoffersCmoreCreasonable
estimates,CAkamaiCdataCalsoCshowsCstarkCdifferencesCbetweenCspeedsCexperiencedCbyCcustomersConCanCaverage
basisCandCspeedsCatCpeakCtimes,CUsingCtheCAkamaiCmeasure)CtheCUnitedCStatesCisCstillCnotCatCtheCfrontCofCtheCpack)
butCisCnotCasCfarCbehindCasCtheCOECDCmeasureCindicates,
Download
SpeedCin
Megabytes
Per
Second(

80
60

40

20

ra
ba
lo
G

Un

ite

lA

ve

St

Ko

at

re
a

es

ge

(LightCbarCrepresentsCtheCaverageCpeakCdownloadCspeed
(DarkCbarCrepresentsCtheCoverallCaverageCdownloadCspeed

Source:CAkamaiCStateCofCtheCInternetC

Figure;W

Comparison of OECD Broadband Measures

In;the;below;chartF;three;key;indicators;that;the;OECD;measures;are;presented;for;most;OECD;countriesG;
broadband;subscriptions;per;LNN;inhabitants;xKNLAz;is;on;the;vertical;axisG;percent;of;households;with;access
to;internet;xKNLNz;is;on;the;horizontal;axisG;andF;the;median;download;speed;xKNLKz;corresponds;to;the;size;
of;the;bubbles5;OverallF;the;United;States;is;in;the;middle;of;the;pack5;
Broadband
subscriptions
per;LNN
inhabitants

50
CHE

NLD
DNK

40
FRA

BEL

30

USA

GRC
PRT
HUN

KOR

NOR

LUX

DEU

CAN

ISL
SWE

FIN

Size;of;bubble;corresponds
to;median;download;speed

JPN
AUT
ESP
AUS
EST ISR
IRL
SVN

XW;Megabits;per;second

ITA

20
CZE
SVK

10

MEX

POL

AN;Megabits;per;second

TUR
LW;Megabits;per;second

20

40

60

80

100

Percent;of;Households;with;Broadband;Internet
SourceZ;OECD;Broadband;Portal

FigureL6L

Change in Availability of Different Internet Technologies

within the United States, 2011 and 2014
TheLbelowLchartLshowsLtheLpercentLofLhouseholdsLwithinLtheLUnitedLStatesLthatLhaveLaccessLtoLvariousLinternetLtechnologies
withinLtheLUnitedLStatesLforLbothL2011LandL2014xLAsLtechnologiesLsuchLasLwirelessHLDSLHLandLcableLbecomeLcloseLtoLuniversally
availableHLmoreLfocusLhasLshiftedLtoLemergingLconnectionLtypesHLsuchLasLfiberLandLcopperxLWhileLaccessLtoLtheseLstateLofLtheLartL
connectionsLisLgrowingHLmostLofLtheLcountryLstillLdoesLnotLhaveLtheLabilityLtoLsubcribeLtoLoneLofLtheseLnetworksx

PercentLof
Households
withLAccess
toLthe
Technology

100
80
60
40
20
0
Wireless

AnyLFixed

DSL

InternetLTechnology

Cable
2011

Copper

Fiber

2014

Source:LNationalLBroadbandLMap

Access to Internet Technologies by State, 2013

FigureF7

EachFstarFshowsFtheFpercentFofFhouseholdsFinFthatFstateFthatFhaveFaccessFtoFfiveFdifferentFinternetFtechnologiesOFWhileFeachFofF
theseFtechnologiesFhasFtheFpotentialFtoFdeliverFhighFspeedsxFtechnologiesFtoFtheFrightFareFgenerallyFconsideredFfasterxFmoreF
consistentxFandFmoreFreliableFthanFtechnologiesFtoFtheFleftO

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Alabama

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

NewFHampshire

NewFJersey

NewFMexico

NewFYork

NorthFCarolina

NorthFDakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

RhodeFIsland

SouthFCarolina

SouthFDakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

100%
DSL
Wyoming

100%

0%

100%

Wireless

Cable

WestFVirginia

Wisconsin

Copper
Fiber

Source:FNationalFBroadbandFMap

Figureg8g

State-Level4Correlations4in4Demographics4and4Access4
to4254Mbps4Download4Speed,42014
.gHouseholds
Downloadg>gU5
Mbps

Peoplegper
squaregmile

600
0
30
15

IngthegbelowgscattergplotsEgeachgcirclegrepresentsgagstate8gThegleftgmostgcolumngshowsgtheg
percentgofghouseholdsgwithgaccessgtoginternetgthatghasgangadvvertisedgmaxgdownloadg
speedgofgU5gMegabitsgpergsecondgxMbps(gorgfastergongtheghorizontalEgandgvariousg
demographicgcharacteristicsgongthegvertical8gTheregappearsgtogbegstrongg
correlationsgbetweengaccessgtoghighgspeedginternetgandgpopulationg
densityEgmediangincomeEgandgpovertygrates8gEducationgandgageg
exhibitgsomegcorrelationEgbutgnotgasgstronggasgothers8g
.gPopulation
Theregappearsgtogbeglittlegcorrelationgwithgrace8
NonFWhite

0
12

.gHouseholds
BelowgPoverty

6
2

Mediang
Household
Income

40
20
0
15

.gPopulations
withgBAgDegree

.gPopulation
Underg35

10
2
0

10

25

Source:gNationalgBroadbandgMap

Figurey9y

Average Number of Fixed Internet Providers, by County, 2014

TheybelowychartyshowsytheydistributionyofycountiesywithytheyUnitedyStatesybasedyonytheymeanynumberyofyfixedybroadbandy
providersyavailableytoyresidents.yOverallBytheynationalyaverageyisy2.68yprovidersBywhileytheyymedianycountyyaveragesy1.68y
providersy9theydifferenceybetweenytheseynumbersyisydueytoytheyfactythatymoreypopulousycountiesytendytoyhaveymore
internetyoptionsP.yEvenyignoringypricingyandyqualityydifferencesBymanyyAmericansyfaceylittleychoiceyinywhereytheyygetytheir
internetyfromByparticularlyyinyruralyandylessypopulatedyareas.

nationalyaveragey

medianycountyy
Probability
ofyaycounty
havingythe
specified
average
numberyof
providers

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

MeanyNumberyofyFixedyBroadbandyProviders

Figure4104

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised

Download Speeds of 1.5 Megabytes per Second or Greater
The4below4map4shows4the4percent4of4households4with4access4to4download4speeds4of41954megabytes4per4second4for4
each4county4in4the4United4States4as4of4June74201494Access4to41954megabytes4download4is4close4to4universal4in4the4
United4States9

Download4times4at
1954Mbps9999
9999song4=4274seconds
9999dvd4=46974hours
9999blueray4=414994hours

B4of4Households4with4Access4to4Speed
0%

100 %

Source:4National4Broadband4Map

Figure.11.

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised

Download Speeds of 3 Megabytes per Second or Greater
The.below.map.shows.the.percent.of.households.with.access.to.download.speeds.of.3.megabytes.per.second.
for.each.county.in.the.United.States.as.of.June=.20145.Very.few.counties.in.the.United.States.have.no.or.little.
access.to.these.download.speeds5

Download.times.at
3.Mbps5555
5555song.=.14.seconds
5555dvd.=.354.hours
5555blueray.=.755.hours

H.of.Households.with.Access.to.Speed
0%

100 %

Source:.National.Broadband.Map

Figure.12.

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised

Download Speeds of 6 Megabytes per Second or Greater
The.below.map.shows.the.percent.of.households.with.access.to.download.speeds.of.6.megabytes.per.second.for.
each.county.in.the.United.States.as.of.June=.20143.Very.few.counties.in.the.United.States.have.no.or.little.access.
to.these.download.speeds3

Download.times.at
6.Mbps3333
3333song.=.7.seconds
3333dvd.=.137.hours
3333blueray.=.337.hours

H.of.Households.with.Access.to.Speed
0%

100 %

Source:.National.Broadband.Map

FigureW13W

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised

Download Speeds of 10 Megabytes per Second or Greater
TheWbelowWmapWshowsWtheWpercentWofWhouseholdsWwithWaccessWtoWdownloadWspeedsWofW10WmegabytesWperWsecondW
forWeachWcountyWinWtheWUnitedWStatesWasWofWJuneDW2014vWWhenWtheWFCCWindicatedWtheyWwereWplanningWtoWredefineW
broadbandWspeedsDWtheyWinitiallyWtargetedW10WmegabytesWperWsecondWasWtheWminimumWdownloadWspeedDWbutWlaterW
changedWitWtoW25WmegabytesWperWsecondWafterWpublicWpressurev

DownloadWtimesWat
10WMbpsvvvv
vvvvsongW=W4Wseconds
vvvvdvdW=W1Whour
vvvvbluerayW=W2v2Whours

%WofWHouseholdsWwithWAccessWtoWSpeed
0%

100 %

Source:WNationalWBroadbandWMap

Figure.34.

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised

Download Speeds of 25 Megabytes per Second or Greater
The.below.map.shows.the.percent.of.households.with.access.to.download.speeds.of.25.megabytes.per.second.
for.each.county.in.the.United.States.as.of.JuneM.2934=.In.February.of.2935M.the.FCC.redefined.broadband.as.internet.
with.download.speeds.of.25.megabytes.per.second.or.fasterM.up.from.4=.This.results.in.a.less.impressive.picture.of.
the.ubitquity.of.broadband=

Download.times.at
25.Mbps====
====song.=.3=7.seconds
====dvd.=.39.minutes
====blueray.=.53.minutes

q.of.Households.with.Access.to.Speed
0%

100 %

Source:.National.Broadband.Map

FigureN15

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised

Download Speeds of 100 Megabytes per Second or Greater
TheNbelowNmapNshowsNtheNpercentNofNhouseholdsNwithNaccessNtoNdownloadNspeedsNofN100NmegabytesNperNsecondN
forNeachNcountyNinNtheNUnitedNStatesNasNofNJune3N2014.NTheNNationalNBroadbandNPlan3NestablishedNinN20103NcallsNforN
100NmillionNhomesNtoNhaveNaccessNtoNdownloadNspeedsNofN100NmegabytesNperNsecondNbyNtheNyearN2020.

DownloadNtimesNat
100NMbps....
....songN=N0.4Nseconds
....dvdN=N4.4Nminutes
....bluerayN=N13Nminutes

5NofNHouseholdsNwithNAccessNtoNSpeed
0%

100 %

FigureU16U

Percentage of Households with Access to Advertised

Download Speeds of 1 Gigabyte per Second
TheUbelowUmapUshowsUtheUpercentUofUhouseholdsUwithUaccessUtoUdownloadUspeedsUofU1UgigabyteUperUsecondUforUeachU
countyUinUtheUUnitedUStatesUasUofUJune=U20143UCurrentlyUseenUasUtheUgoldUstandardUofUinternetUspeeds=U1UgigabyteU
accessUisUextremelyUrareUinUtheUUnitedUStates3

DownloadUtimesUat
100UMbps3333
3333songU=U0304Useconds
3333dvdU=U26Useconds
3333bluerayU=U133Uminutes

4UofUHouseholdsUwithUAccessUtoUSpeed
0%

100 %

Source:UNationalUBroadbandUMap

References

Federal Communications Commission. June 30, 2014. National Broadband Map, Analyze
Tables. http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/broadband-data (Accessed April 13, 2015).

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. February 29, 2015. OECD
Broadband Portal. https://www.oecd.org/sti/broadband/oecdbroadbandportal.htm (Accessed
March, 2015).

Akamai. 2015. The Akamai State of the Internet Report, Q4, 2014.
http://www.akamai.com/dl/soti/q4-2014-soti-infographic.pdf (Accessed April 20, 2015).