Guide · Data
How to read FCC broadband availability data (and what it can't tell you)
Last reviewed: July 2026
The quick answer
The FCC National Broadband Map records where providers say they can deliver service, at census-block level, with maximum advertised speeds — filed by the providers themselves roughly twice a year. It's the best public availability source in the U.S., but it reports offers, not guarantees, so exact-address confirmation still matters.
Where the data comes from
Under the FCC's Broadband Data Collection (BDC) program, every U.S. internet provider must file where it offers service and at what maximum advertised speeds. The FCC publishes those filings at broadbandmap.fcc.gov. OneClickAway's ZIP checker uses that public dataset — provider filings as of December 31, 2024 — joined to U.S. Census ZCTA boundaries so block-level records roll up to the ZIP codes people actually search, covering roughly 31,000 ZIPs nationwide.
The FCC does not endorse or certify this site; the filings are public data any business may use.
What "maximum advertised speed" means
The speed next to each provider is the fastest plan that provider advertises somewhere in your ZIP — not a measurement, and not a promise for your address. A provider filing 10 Gbps fiber on a few blocks and 1.2 Gbps cable across the rest of a ZIP will show both. Treat the number as a ceiling: the plans actually orderable at your address may top out lower, which is exactly what an agent confirms before you order.
Why block coverage percentage matters
Availability inside one ZIP is rarely uniform. In Fremont's 94538, for example, the December 2024 filings show Xfinity fiber reported on about 9% of census blocks while Xfinity cable covers about 66% — same brand, same ZIP, very different odds that a given address qualifies. That's why OneClickAway shows a coverage meter per technology instead of a simple yes/no: a high percentage means "most addresses," a low one means "pockets — worth checking, don't assume."
| Signal | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| High coverage % + fiber | Most addresses in the ZIP can order it | Have an agent confirm your address, then order |
| Low coverage % + very high speed | Premium tech reaches pockets of the ZIP | Worth checking — address-level answer needed |
| Only satellite listed | No wired provider filed service there | Satellite works essentially everywhere; compare dish options |
Why we show speeds but not prices
FCC filings contain no pricing, and broadband pricing changes with address, promotion, bundle, and term. Publishing a number that's wrong for your street helps nobody — so this site never invents one. Results show what the data actually supports (technologies and maximum advertised speeds), and your agent quotes real pricing for your exact address the same business day.
How to use the checker well
Three steps get the most out of the data:
- Search your 5-digit ZIP and note which technologies appear — fiber, cable, 5G home, fixed wireless, DSL, satellite.
- Compare coverage percentages, not just headline speeds — a 90%-coverage cable plan may serve you better than a 9%-coverage fiber listing.
- Have an agent confirm your exact address before ordering; that's where advertised availability becomes an actual install date.
Rather have a human sort it out?