Broadband Now reports…

Examining pricing data from fifty national and regional providers, we’ve found that prices have decreased across all major download speeds (25Mbps up to 1Gbps+) and technologies (cable, fiber, DSL and fixed wireless). This study utilizes average pricing of broadband internet plans for 50 providers since 2016. See full methodology.

Here are the key findings…

• Prices have fallen since 2016, with the highest speed plans falling the most. When looking at the average price for internet in each speed bucket starting in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021:
  • The average price decreased by $8.80 or 14% for 25 – 99 Mbps.
  • The average price decreased by $32.35 or 33% for 100 – 199 Mbps.
  • The average price decreased by $34.39 or 35% for 200 – 499 Mbps.
  • The average price decreased by $59.22 or 42% for 500+ Mbps.
• Fiber tends to be cheaper than cable for most high-speed plans, even as fiber is generally considered to be the most robust and highest quality type of wired internet connection.
• Local prices are reflective of competition. Every speed type and technology type have plans of $70 somewhere in the U.S., depending on which alternatives are available. See our most recent report looking at affordability and access by state.

And what they say about Minnesota…

And how they collect the data…

Every year, we collect pricing and speed data on all 2,000 U.S. ISPs, and combine it with publicly available data sets and our own proprietary research on over-reporting of internet access to publish this report.