The Federal Communications Commission released its annual Section 706 Report, highlighting significant progress in broadband availability across the United States. Data indicates that fixed terrestrial broadband access reaching 100/20 Mbps is now available to 96.9 percent of Americans. This represents a substantial decline in the number of citizens lacking high-speed connectivity over the past two years.
Rural access saw notable improvements during this period. When satellite options are included in the assessment, high-speed broadband is nearly universal in rural areas. Mobile connectivity also reached new benchmarks with almost 95 percent of households and businesses now covered by 5G networks. These improvements are paired with a rise in consumer choice, as 77 percent of the population now has access to three or more fixed service providers.
Performance metrics also trended upward throughout the year. Wireless download speeds grew by 51 percent in 2025, while fixed wireless upload and download speeds saw double-digit percentage increases. These performance gains coincided with lower costs for consumers. Postpaid unlimited wireless plans dropped in price by 10 percent over the last year, and fixed broadband service costs decreased by 6 percent.
Commission leadership attributed these outcomes to the Build America agenda and current administration policies. The agency approved $130 billion in deal flow since January 2025, facilitating investments in cable and fiber infrastructure. Furthermore, regulatory efforts to phase out legacy copper networks have accelerated the migration to next-generation high-speed platforms. States such as North Carolina reported a measurable shift as residents transitioned from outdated copper subscriptions to modern broadband services.
These findings suggest that the regulatory environment is prioritizing infrastructure deployment and competitive market dynamics. The shift toward fixed wireless solutions, supported by updated spectrum and siting policies, provided additional capacity to meet demand at lower price points. As the agency moves forward, it plans to maintain this pace of expansion to ensure continued connectivity improvements nationwide.