About
Broadband Map makes it easy to find internet providers and compare cell coverage. The Coverage by Broadband Map app lets users explore cell coverage directly from a mobile device.
Map Types
Along with the comprehensive maps of cell coverage and internet availability, Broadband Map offers narrowly tailored maps and availability listings.
API & Data Licensing
The Broadband Map API offers no-cost test keys and subscription plans for production use. API docs are available on the developers page.
For inquiries about other ways of using Broadband Map's data, reach out to .
Conflicts of Interest
Broadband Map partners with companies in the telecom industry. Typically, Broadband Map lists every known internet provider in an area and orders providers based on speeds and underlying technologies. Outbound links are usually reserved for companies Broadband Map has financial relationships with. The transparency page goes into more detail and lists the companies Broadband Map works with.
Limitations
Broadband Map is imperfect. Internet availability maps use data that's lower resolution than address-level. Cell coverage maps report outdoor, native-network signal quality. Indoor signal quality, congestion levels, and roaming coverage are not mapped, and each can make a real difference in practice. Known limitations are logged in more detail for ISPs and cell networks.
Data Sourcing
Broadband Map draws extensively on data from the FCC's Broadband Data Collection (BDC) program. While the FCC has a mapping tool consumers can use, the FCC's tool rarely surfaces in search queries. One of Broadband Map's primary goals is surfacing BDC data to a larger audience.
While BroadbandMap.com uses FCC data, it is not endorsed by the FCC or a product of the FCC.
Cell Coverage
Broadband Map historically supplemented BDC cell coverage data with crowdsourced, on-the-ground data from third parties.
- DIMO: DIMO collected information about the performance of cell networks from thousands of vehicles that collectively drove many millions of miles. DIMO's rich dataset covered all three of the major U.S. networks.
- Roam: Roam offers an Android app that assesses the real-world performance of cell networks as users go about their everyday lives. Data originates from a wide range of devices and accounts for both large networks and small networks.
Existing coverage maps draw heavily on these third-party efforts. Broadband Map is in the process of bringing more data crowdsourcing in-house, mostly via its Android app.
Internet Availability
Internet availability data from the BDC program is supplemented with data acquired through collaborations with ISPs.
Cartographic Data
Broadband Map is aided by cartographic data from many sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Kontur, OpenStreetMap, and various entities contributing to Mapbox's services.