Category Archives: Digital Divide

Federal reports of internet access in 2025: Including MN numbers

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The US report on Internet access for 2025 is now out. Here’s the intro…

This report summarizes information about Internet access in the United States as of December 31, 2025,
as collected by FCC Form 477 and the Broadband Data Collection (BDC). For purposes of this report,
Internet access is defined as a service that allows information to be sent to or received from the Internet
with a speed of at least 200 kilobits per second. See the Technical Notes at the end of this report for
more-detailed information about these data collections and the meaning of terms used in this report. …

The National Broadband Map displays where internet access services are available across the United
States and can be viewed online at broadbandmap.fcc.gov. Additional maps depicting the number of
fixed connections per 1,000 households by census tract are available online at
fcc.gov/internet-access-services-reports. Other publicly available data that are too voluminous to include
in this report are available online at fcc.gov/general/fcc-form-477-additional-data.

I’m going to try to summarize much of the reports with their graphs…

And here’s what they have for Minnesota  for availability…

Availability of Terrestrial Fixed Broadband by State as of December 31, 2025
(Locations in thousands)

  • Locations: 2,122
  • At least 25 Mbps Down and 3 Mbps Up: 2,082
    • Ratio: .98
  • At least 100 Mbps Down and 20 Mbps Up: 2,052
    • Ratio: .97
  • At least 940 Mbps Down and 500 Mbps Up: 1,325
    • Ratio: .62

vailability of Mobile Broadband by State as of December 31, 2025
(Locations in thousands)

  • Locations: 2,122
  • At least 3G (200 Kbps Down and 50 Kbps Up): 2,118
    • Ratio: 1.0
  • At least 4G LTE (5 Mbps Down and 1 Mbps Up): 2,118
    • Ratio: 1.0
  • At least 5G-NR (7 Mbps Down and 1 Mbps Up): 2,071
    • Ratio: .98
  • At least 5G-NR (35 Mbps Down and 3 Mbps Up): 1,959
    • Ratio: .92

Residential Fixed Connections and Households by State as of December 31, 2025
(Connections and households in thousands)

  • Locations: 2,122
  • At least 25 Mbps Down and 3 Mbps Up: 2,011
    • Ratio: .87
  • At least 100 Mbps Down and 20 Mbps Up: 1,585
    • Ratio: .69
  • At least 940 Mbps Down and 500 Mbps Up: 208
    • Ratio: .09

Connections by Type of End User by State as of December 31, 2025
(Connections in thousands)

  • Residential Connections: 7,679
    • Percentage: 84.2
  • Business Connections: 1,436
    • Percentage: 15.8
  • Total: 9,114

Connections by Technology by State as of December 31, 2025
(in thousands)

  • Copper Wire1: 188
  • Coaxial Cable: 1,284
  • Optical Carrier: 525
  • Other Fixed2: 299
  • Mobile Wireless: 9,114

Percentage of Fixed Connections by Downstream Speed by State as of December 31, 2025

  • Over 200 kbps Upstream and % at least 25 Mbps: 95.5
  • % at least 100 Mbps Downstream: 79.8
  • % at least 940 Mbps Downstream: 28.4

Providers of Connections by Technology by State as of December 31, 2025

  • Copper Wire1: 33
  • Coaxial Cable: 15
  • Optical Carrier: 86
  • Satellite: *
  • Fixed Wireless: 43
  • Mobile Wireless: 4
  • Unduplicated Total: 114

Providers of Connections by Technology by State as of December 31, 2025
(Connections over 200 kbps in at least one direction)

  • Copper Wire1: 33
  • Coaxial Cable: 15
  • Optical Carrier: 86
  • Satellite: *
  • Fixed Wireless: 43
  • Mobile Wireless: 4
  • Unduplicated Total: 114

 

 

 

Providers looking to put cell towers in space to reach rural roads

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The Hill reports...

In a recent report, the Federal Communications Commission revealed a worrisome paradox in America’s cellular networks: they reach nearly everyone, but not nearly everywhere. While 95 percent of the U.S. population can receive 5G service from at least one carrier, only 69 percent of the nation’s road miles and 39 percent of its land area have such coverage. In rural America, the numbers fall to 60 percent and 38 percent.

This is the rural-mobile divide. It is not about whether a household can obtain broadband at home. It is about losing mobile service while driving, farming, hiking, fighting a wildfire or responding to an emergency.

The conventional solution is to build more cell towers. Some are still needed. But extending terrestrial networks to every remote road, ravine and mountaintop would be economically irrational. The FCC has approved a plan to provide up to $9 billion to close the remaining gaps in America’s 5G cellular networks. But instead of treating every dead zone as a construction problem, we should consider whether the last cell towers should instead be placed in orbit.

Technology advances now offer a promising alternative to cover this last and most expensive frontier. Direct-to-device satellite service allows an ordinary compatible cellphone to connect directly to a satellite when no terrestrial tower is available. The satellite effectively becomes a cell tower in space. No satellite phone, dish or other specialized equipment is required.

All three national carriers see satellites becoming an integral part of mobile networks.

Verizon wants to discontinue landlines in MN but that could leave customers without reliable service

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The Minnesota Star Tribune reports...

Major telecommunications companies, including Verizon, are pressing forward to discontinue aging copper technology in Minnesota and nationwide, saying the old networks are obsolete, expensive to fix and used by few. Providers are taking steps forward in a lighter regulatory environment under the Trump administration.

Accelerating the death of the traditional landline is a rule change this spring from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC eliminated certain requirements for telecommunications companies and revised standards of what qualifies as an “adequate replacement” service. Among the newly approved replacement types is wireless, which Verizon is now pitching to Bradley and his neighbors.

As impending disconnection notices land in Minnesotans’ mailboxes, some customers are worried they’ll be forced onto spotty service, or disconnected altogether, especially those living in exurbs or rural Minnesota where fiber networks are incomplete or unavailable.

Satellite also is a less-viable option for those living under heavy tree canopy or in hilly areas. And in remote spots, copper lines can stay live when the power goes out, a comfort in emergency situations.

Scandia Mayor Steve Kronmiller estimates 100 properties in his town are currently outside the fiber network. He fears residents near the St. Croix could have trouble connecting with a 911 operator.

“There’s nothing the city can really do. We’re at the mercy of these providers,” Kronmiller said. “If one person dies, that’s more than we need.”

Verizon spokeswoman Diana Alvear said the company is committed to maintaining telephone service to customers who have no available alternatives, “keeping them connected.”

This extends beyond one provider…

Frontier in recent years fell into the crosshairs of state regulators and telecommunications watchdogs over subpar service and deceptive marketing practices. After closing its $20 billion deal to buy Frontier in January, Verizon inherited a legacy Minnesota service network stretching from the Twin Cities metro to northern lake country.

Since Verizon proposed its plan to begin shutting down the traditional landline network, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has received two dozen protest letters, including from residents of northern Minnesota communities Brimson, Ault and Fairbanks, as well as St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.

The FCC does not want to force providers to maintain he legacy network…

In its latest rule issued in March, the FCC claims states cannot “force providers to devote resources to maintaining deteriorating legacy networks.” Verizon is relying on that position as the company attempts to leapfrog state regulators.

The telecommunications company filed a lawsuit last month claiming federal approval from the FCC means the company does not need a green light from the state commission to proceed with its plan. The dispute is ongoing.

Customers are caught in the middle and are engaging…

For the better part of a decade, a small committee in Scandia has been working to get broadband internet set up across town, relying on government infrastructure grants.

Residents are hopeful the build-out project by provider MidCo will finish before end of year. But Bradley said construction could stretch into June depending on weather, well past Verizon’s proposed cutoff date.

Even though Bradley and his wife, Claudia, have cellphones and use Wi-Fi calling at home, the landline is essential for when those other options often fail. When his mother-in-law was living with them, she had health problems that required using a landline for ambulance service.

It’s also how family and friends have gotten ahold of the Bradleys at critical moments, like when his twin grandsons were born and went into the neonatal intensive care unit.

“The only way [my daughter] could get ahold of us was through the landline,” Bradley said.

DEADLINE Oct 30: Applications are Open for Connectivity Policy Corps, Year 2!

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An invitation from NDIA and Public Knowledge – and if you follow up and get in, please let me know. I think it looks like a great program…

Have you ever wanted to learn more about digital inclusion policy, wanted to feel more comfortable reaching out to policymakers and sharing your story with them, or learning strategies to ensure digital inclusion is included in local, state, Tribal, or federal policies? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes!” then we would LOVE for you to apply to join us in our second cohort of the Connectivity Policy Corps! Applications are live and open until October 30th at 11:59PM PST.

About the Connectivity Policy Corps:

The Connectivity Policy Corps (CPC) advances digital equity by elevating local expertise and storytelling into policy action that informs debates surrounding digital inclusion, broadband adoption, broadband affordability, and other digital inclusion and broadband policies and opportunities. Through Connectivity Policy Corps (CPC), the National Digital Inclusion Alliance and Public Knowledge equip a network of digital inclusion champions with the tools and expertise to lead digital inclusion policy advocacy at the local, state, Tribal and federal levels. CPC members engage policymakers and federal agencies and advocate through storytelling. By amplifying local voices, the CPC aims to foster collective power that advances digital equity in meaningful and measurable ways. Learn more about the 2026 CPC Cohort here.

 

How to apply for the 2027 CPC Member Cohort:

  • Applications are due by Friday, October 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
  • To apply for the 2027 CPC Cohort complete this form
  • Read our blogpost for more background information and information about the application
  • Email shauna@digitalinclusion.org with any questions about CPC or the application.
  • The cohort will include up to 12 cohort members for Year 2, and applicants will be notified of the status of their application by December 2026.

Pew looks broadly at mobile device use since 2000

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Pew Research reports…

Large shares of Americans are connected to the world of digital information while on the go via smartphones and other mobile devices. Explore the patterns and trends that have shaped the mobile revolution below.

 

Pew looks broadly at home internet use since 2000

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Pew Research reports…

The internet represents a fundamental shift in how Americans connect with one another, gather information and conduct their day-to-day lives. For more than 25 years, Pew Research Center has documented the internet’s growth and distribution in the United States. Explore the patterns of internet and home broadband adoption below.

They tell the story in a series of graphs:

OPPORTUNITY: Apply now to participate in the 2027 CPC Cohort! Due Oct 30, 2026

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From the National Digital Inclusion Association (NDIA)…

Have you ever wanted to learn more about digital inclusion policy, wanted to feel more comfortable reaching out to policymakers and sharing your story with them, or learning strategies to ensure digital inclusion is included in local, state, Tribal, or federal policies? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes!” then we would LOVE for you to apply to join us in our second cohort of the Connectivity Policy Corps! Applications are live and open until October 30th at 11:59PM PST.

 

About the Connectivity Policy Corps:

The Connectivity Policy Corps (CPC) advances digital equity by elevating local expertise and storytelling into policy action that informs debates surrounding digital inclusion, broadband adoption, broadband affordability, and other digital inclusion and broadband policies and opportunities. Through Connectivity Policy Corps (CPC), the National Digital Inclusion Alliance and Public Knowledge equip a network of digital inclusion champions with the tools and expertise to lead digital inclusion policy advocacy at the local, state, Tribal and federal levels. CPC members engage policymakers and federal agencies and advocate through storytelling. By amplifying local voices, the CPC aims to foster collective power that advances digital equity in meaningful and measurable ways. Learn more about the 2026 CPC Cohort here.

 

How to apply for the 2027 CPC Member Cohort:

  • Applications are due by Friday, October 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
  • To apply for the 2027 CPC Cohort complete this form
  • Read our blogpost for more background information and information about the application
  • Email shauna@digitalinclusion.org with any questions about CPC or the application.
  • The cohort will include up to 12 cohort members for Year 2, and applicants will be notified of the status of their application by December 2026.

Tribal broadband is a connection to language, health care, education and economic development

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Broadband Breakfast reports (via Institute for Local Self Reliance)…

Tribal broadband is not simply a faster connection. For tribal nations, panelists said Wednesday, durable infrastructure can preserve language, extend health care and education, support economic development and strengthen sovereignty, but only when tribes control the choices shaping their networks.

That connection between culture and infrastructure emerged during a Broadband Breakfast Live Online discussion on tribal broadband and adoption.

The conversation ranged from fiber and satellites to open-access networks, spectrum rights, data sovereignty and the cost of helping residents get online.

“We want our members to learn the language. We want other people to learn the language,” said Rob Griffin, tribal broadband director for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “But to do so, we have to have good infrastructure.”

The Choctaw Nation began pursuing fiber after encountering a school limited to satellite internet, Griffin said. It has since received $110 million in grants and is building 1,000 miles of fiber alongside fixed wireless connections. Such networks can support language programs, remote work, testing and telehealth for decades.

Broadband is a lifeline and a line to a better livelihood; the full article is a good reminder. It’s interesting to see the perspective on local ownership.

Local broadband provider Arvig gives more Than $130,000 to local schools

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Lakes Area Radio reports…

Arvig, headquartered in Perham, says it distributed more than $130,000 to local K-12 schools over the past year through its Internet School Partnership Program.

The program allows Arvig internet customers to designate a local school to receive support from the company. Arvig says the program has now provided nearly $1.86 million directly to participating school districts over the years.

Arvig is also expanding its school partnerships with a new educational program called Let’s Talk Tech, part of the company’s Digital Life Skills resources.

The program provides lessons on online safety and how the internet works. Arvig volunteers can present the material to second and third grade students at no cost to schools.

Schools and community members can also find information about the Internet School Partnership Program and enrolling a school for the upcoming year at Arvig.com.

EVENT Oct 8: digitalLIFT’s 4th Annual Day of Equity

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From the hosts…

digitalLIFT’s 4th annual Day of Equity is October 8, 2026. Don’t miss this amazing and empowering day! Six sector-specific sessions feature engaging presenters, industry leaders, and powerful content that will inform, educate, encourage, excite, and inspire you and everyone who attends. Register For the Day of Equity Sessions Today!

Purdue report finds increase of US households experience reduced digital participation because they have mobile-device access only

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Roberto Gallardo of Purdue University has a new study (An Evolving Digital Divide:
Measuring and Understanding Mobile-Dependent Households (MDH)) out looking at folks with mobile-only access to broadband…

Despite unprecedented broadband investment, the share of U.S. households relying solely on cellular data and mobile devices or mobile-dependent households (MDH) increased from 11.9 to 14.1 percent between 2019 and 2024. This report introduces the MDH concept, which captures
the “double whammy” of limited data and limited screen size, and examines its determinants before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using Census tract-level data. Results indicate that the share of the population with any disability, households with a lack of internet access, income, educational attainment, and homeownership are among the strongest factors associated with mobile dependence, with several associations shifting in strength post-pandemic. As communities implement BEAD-funded broadband projects, these findings suggest that connecting households is insufficient if that connectivity comes through the most constrained pathway available.

I’ve been looking at reports about computer vs phone vs tablet access for years. I am acutely reminded of the difference on vacation. I can do many things on my phone, and in a pinch, I could do my job but it’s much more difficult. Roberto looked at 5-Year American Community Survey (ACS) dataset ending in 2019 and in 2024 to view mobile-only access.

Here are some images of what it looks like

His conclusions…

To summarize, this report introduces the concept of mobile-dependent households experiencing the “double whammy” of relying solely on cellular data and mobile devices and examines the factors associated with this growing population before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Recalling that the share of MDH increased from 11.9 to 14.1 percent between 2019 and 2024, a period of unprecedented federal broadband investment. This growth, combined with the expanding footprint of high-high clusters shown in the LISA maps, suggests that infrastructure deployment alone does not resolve the structural conditions pushing households toward mobile-only connectivity. This is
important to keep in mind as the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) investments across the country start to materialize and the future of the Digital Equity Act funds, which targets skills and devices is uncertain.

Several post-pandemic shifts stand out: the metro-nonmetro gap widened as metro tracts gained a significant negative association with MDH by 2024; disability’s association with MDH strengthened substantially, reflecting the consequences of essential services moving to digital platforms that small screens and capped data plans cannot adequately support; the no-internet association also
strengthened, indicating that where fixed broadband is absent, the households that do come online are increasingly doing so through mobile; income’s association strengthened as well, consistent with fixed broadband becoming more of a premium good in the post-pandemic economy; and the
association with the share of the population aged 65 or older disappeared entirely, suggesting that older adults who entered the digital world during the pandemic did so disproportionately through smartphones rather than fixed broadband. Notably, blue-collar occupations, while still positively associated with MDH in both years, weakened in strength, possibly reflecting that broadband expansion reached more blue-collar communities post-pandemic even as afordability became a more dominant barrier.

And cutting to the chase…

In moving beyond the question of whether households are linked to how they are connected, this report reveals that a growing share of American households experience a second-class form of digital participation. As Napoli and Obar (2014) warned over a decade ago, treating mobile access as equivalent to fixed broadband risks rendering this growing population invisible. The MDH concept makes them visible.

Duluth resident says there’s still a place for landlines in rural Minnesota

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Duluth News tribune reports…

Rural Minnesota is often overlooked. Many people in our region, especially seniors and older adults, rely on their landline phone service. Many still do not have cell service due to the increased cost or simply the unavailability of adequate broadband in their area. Frontier, a major provider in these areas, plans to discontinue its traditional landline service and has made that proposal to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

AARP wants to ensure that consumers are not left without dependable and affordable access to essential phone service. We hope the commission requires strong consumer protections before allowing a discontinuation of landlines. Reliable and affordable phone service is too important to tinker with without making sure everyone has that protection.

EVENT Oct 8: Building for Digital Equity webinar series

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From the Institute for Local Self Reliance…

Building for Digital Equity webinar series returns on October 8th at 3:00 pm ET with a timely question: with federal support for digital equity work in retreat, what does it actually take to keep this work alive, growing, and reaching people at the local level? Register here!

MN Broadband Task Force September 2026: Otter Tail Digital Access and Benton on MN broadband speed goals

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The Task Force heard from Otter Tail County on their broadband experience. It was nice to hear about the impact Blandin has had on their access. The Office of Broadband Development gave an update of how things are going with BEAD and other programs. John Horrigan from Benton Institute for Broadband and Society talked about access and adoption and trends over time to percentage of coverage and speeds as well as changes in recent goals from speed, access and affordability to more access and affordability.

The Task Force also decided to send a comment to the FCC in support of E-Rate

Meeting Agenda Continue reading →

EVENT Feb 24-26, 2026: Net Inclusion 2027

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From the National Digital Inclusion Alliance…

The Net Inclusion conference has been a staple in the digital inclusion community since 2016, bringing hundreds of practitioners, advocates, academics, internet service providers, and policymakers together to advance their professional development, share their knowledge, and discuss:

  • Local, state, Tribal, and federal policies impacting digital equity.
  • Digital inclusion best practices from across the country, including new sessions on AI and digital equity, rural and Tribal outreach, and securing funding for sustainability.
  • Digital inclusion programming, including the latest on digital navigators, digital health equity, accessibility, serving diverse populations, and community-centered work.
Join us in Columbus, Ohio, and be part of the movement to shape our digital future.