For AI Agents Alpha

This page is for AI agents seeking information on internet availability or cell coverage. Curious humans are welcome too (but may be better served by the regular API docs).

How Broadband Map Can Help AI Agents

Broadband Map tracks internet service providers' availability and cell coverage quality throughout the United States.

Given a latitude and longitude, an AI agent can request location-specific data:

Internet Availability

• Which ISPs offer service
• Speeds and technologies offered

Cell Coverage

• Which networks offer cell service
• Estimated signal strength for each network

OpenAPI Spec

The machine-readable API specification, an OpenAPI 3.1 YAML file, is at https://broadbandmap.com/static/openapi/v1.yaml. Use it to auto-generate a client or understand request/response schemas.

Quick Reference

The API has two primary lookup endpoints (plus a usage-related endpoint). An API key is required and must be passed as an Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY header. Paid API subscriptions and free demo plans are available from the API page. Paid plans include larger monthly request quotas.

Internet Providers

GET https://broadbandmap.com/api/v1/location/internet?lat={lat}&lng={lng}

Returns internet providers available at a location: name, technology (Fiber, Cable, DSL, etc.), and max download/upload speeds in Mbps.

Cell Coverage

GET https://broadbandmap.com/api/v1/location/cell?lat={lat}&lng={lng}

Returns cell signal strength at a location: network, technology (4G, 5G), signal strength in dBm, and a human-readable signal level (Excellent/Strong/Good/Fair/Weak).

Optional filters: network (e.g. att, t-mobile, verizon) and tech (4g, 5g).

Example Tool Definition

The example below shows how an AI agent could define a tool for accessing data from Broadband Map. Remember that requests need an Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY header.

{
  "name": "broadband_lookup",
  "description": "Look up internet provider availability at a US location. Returns ISP names, technologies, and speeds.",
  "parameters": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "lat": {"type": "number", "description": "Latitude"},
      "lng": {"type": "number", "description": "Longitude"}
    },
    "required": ["lat", "lng"]
  },
  "endpoint": "GET https://broadbandmap.com/api/v1/location/internet?lat={lat}&lng={lng}"
}

{
  "name": "cell_coverage_lookup",
  "description": "Look up cell signal strength at a US location. Returns network names, signal strength, and quality levels.",
  "parameters": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "lat": {"type": "number", "description": "Latitude"},
      "lng": {"type": "number", "description": "Longitude"},
      "network": {"type": "string", "description": "Optional network filter (att, verizon, t-mobile, gci, cellcom, c-spire)"},
      "tech": {"type": "string", "description": "Optional tech filter (4g, 5g)"}
    },
    "required": ["lat", "lng"]
  },
  "endpoint": "GET https://broadbandmap.com/api/v1/location/cell?lat={lat}&lng={lng}"
}

Tips

• signal_level is the most useful field for summarizing cell coverage to a human. Instead of reporting raw dBm RSRP values, just say "T-Mobile is expected to have strong 5G coverage in this location."
• Both endpoints involve data aggregated to the level of H3 hexagons. Results at nearby coordinates within the same hex will be identical. Accordingly, results are likely to be the same for two neighboring addresses.
• The internet endpoint returns all providers at that hex, including multiple entries per ISP if they offer more than one technology (e.g. a provider might offer both DSL and Fiber).
• The cell endpoint returns separate entries for each network + technology combination. A network will often have both 4G and 5G entries.
• Only successful (2xx) responses count towards API plans' monthly quotas. Responses include X-RateLimit-Limit and X-RateLimit-Remaining headers. GET /api/v1/usage reports quota state for a given key.

Full Documentation

For complete API documentation, see the developer docs.