Only 22 U.S. States Met Bare-Minimum Broadband Internet Speeds in 2024

Sometimes, people assume that solving the digital divide begins and ends at giving everyone internet access. But what good is a connection if it’s too slow for you to actually do anything? That’s why taking broadband speeds into account is critical. Unfortunately, a new report found that the digital divide increased in 32 states as the U.S. struggles to provide high-speed broadband nationwide. In a new report analyzing data from July to December 2024, Ookla, an internet analysis site, found that only 22 states are meeting the Federal Communications Commission’s minimum standard for fixed broadband speeds. Although that’s a solid increase from only nine states in the first half of 2024, improvement was mostly seen in urban areas. As a result, the overall gap between communities widened in 32 states. According to Ookla, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and Missouri have the largest divides between rural and urban communities. Last year, the FCC increased its minimum standard for broadband ... Read full article.