Updated July 2026 · CPUC/FCC data as of December 31, 2024

California Broadband Map

The California Broadband Map is an interactive county-by-county guide to internet coverage, adoption, served households, and priority unserved areas across California. Updated July 2026 using CPUC/FCC data as of December 31, 2024, it helps residents, advocates, local governments, and providers see where fixed broadband is strong, where gaps remain, and which coverage layers can answer provider, speed, satellite, business, and mobile wireless questions.

Served 25/3

97.62%

Adoption

79.28%

Priority unserved

340,667

California fixed broadband

County coverage and weakness map

County

Broadband weakness analysis

Where California broadband coverage is weakest

The map above now includes an FCC-derived weakness score for each California county. The score weights five public signals: wired 100/20 availability, fiber availability, mobile 5G 35/3 coverage, fixed broadband adoption, and priority unserved households.

This is the first shippable version of the coverage-gap asset from the brief: one citable map and table, not a page-per-county matrix. It is designed for journalists, local digital inclusion teams, libraries, and benefits navigators who need a fast way to identify counties where the broadband problem is likely deeper than a simple provider lookup.

Important boundary: FCC broadband coverage summaries do not prove Lifeline Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) service-area availability. We use them for broadband weakness analysis, then keep Lifeline affordability guidance separate until provider service-area records are verified from FCC, USAC, or state commission sources.

Download the county weakness CSV Compare the national broadband map

County	Score	Wired 100/20	Fiber 100/20	5G 35/3 area	Adoption	Priority unserved
Mariposa	80/100	8.28%	8.28%	31.04%	10.2%	21.32%
Trinity	78/100	20.24%	11.74%	5.2%	19.24%	18.57%
Alpine	71/100	26.06%	25.93%	16.74%	31.99%	32.54%
Sierra	69/100	27.75%	26.68%	23.59%	26.62%	24.25%
Modoc	62/100	31.9%	22.46%	35.8%	38.73%	14.8%
Plumas	59/100	42.71%	34.02%	24.76%	35.92%	5.75%
Tehama	57/100	49.92%	1.6%	41.59%	45.51%	3.14%
Mendocino	56/100	70.67%	1.32%	18.55%	43.09%	10.28%
Tuolumne	53/100	67.89%	2.48%	25.01%	51.1%	5.47%
Glenn	49/100	63.22%	0.22%	52.54%	53.02%	2.49%

What this map shows

California broadband coverage, adoption, and unserved households

This broadband map California reference page turns official government data into a simpler county-first view. The live map compares the share of households offered fixed broadband at 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up, the share of priority unserved households below 10 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up, and fixed broadband adoption based on consumer connections.

The data comes from the California Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. The CPUC says it collects broadband availability data once a year and displays it through the California Interactive Broadband Map. The state map currently identifies its displayed CPUC and FCC availability data as of December 31, 2024. This page uses that same public-data window and is updated as a readable companion, not as a replacement for the official address lookup tools.

In practice, the page is useful for three different jobs: spotting counties where broadband gaps remain, explaining what "served" and "priority unserved" mean in plain English, and organizing the available coverage layers for people who need provider, speed, fixed, satellite, business, or mobile wireless context.

Available coverage layers

California broadband provider and coverage layers

These sections keep the county summary, residential fixed broadband coverage in California, business fixed broadband, satellite broadband availability, and mobile wireless coverage by county on one page. They should not be treated as separate search pages; they are supporting layers that make this California broadband map more useful than a thin link directory.

County summary / Residential

County Deployment & Adoption Summary (Residential)

Live on the map

Use this county broadband map layer to compare California internet coverage, adoption, served households, and priority unserved households across all 58 counties.

County-level CPUC/FCC household deployment and adoption data for all 58 California counties.

Coverage: County summary
Audience: Residential
Layer type: County metrics

Best for: Fast county comparisons, rankings, and public-facing summaries.

Measures: All households, Served households, Unserved households, Priority unserved households, Consumer fixed broadband connections, Adoption rate

Fixed terrestrial / Residential

Residential Fixed Broadband Coverage in California

Provider coverage available

This residential fixed broadband coverage layer is the provider-and-speed companion to the county map, useful for understanding which fixed providers report service in California communities.

Provider coverage areas for residential fixed terrestrial broadband.

Coverage: Fixed terrestrial
Audience: Residential
Layer type: Coverage areas
Features: 632
Providers: 156

Best for: Provider, technology, and advertised-speed filters for residential fixed broadband.

Measures: Provider name, Connection technology, Advertised download speed, Advertised upload speed, Coverage area

Fixed terrestrial / Business

Business Fixed Broadband Coverage in California

Provider coverage available

This business broadband coverage layer helps analysts compare commercial provider availability, connection technology, and advertised speeds across California.

Provider coverage areas for business fixed terrestrial broadband.

Coverage: Fixed terrestrial
Audience: Business
Layer type: Coverage areas
Features: 1,051
Providers: 167

Best for: Commercial broadband availability, provider filters, and business-speed comparisons.

Measures: Provider name, Connection technology, Advertised download speed, Advertised upload speed, Coverage area

Satellite / Residential

Residential Satellite Broadband Coverage

Coverage layer available

This satellite broadband layer separates residential satellite availability from fixed terrestrial service so rural and remote coverage questions are easier to interpret.

Satellite coverage areas for residential broadband deployment.

Coverage: Satellite
Audience: Residential
Layer type: Coverage areas

Best for: Separating satellite availability from terrestrial fixed broadband availability.

Measures: Coverage area

Additional layer details should be verified during the overlay preparation pass before public filtering is enabled.

Satellite / Business

Satellite Business Broadband Coverage

Coverage layer available

This business satellite layer helps separate satellite availability from wired and fixed wireless options for employers, field offices, and rural commercial locations.

Satellite coverage areas for business broadband deployment.

Coverage: Satellite
Audience: Business
Layer type: Coverage areas

Best for: Business satellite availability and speed comparisons.

Measures: Coverage area

Additional layer details should be verified during the overlay preparation pass before public filtering is enabled.

Mobile wireless / Mobile

Mobile Wireless Deployment Coverage

Coverage layer available

This mobile wireless coverage layer supports mobile broadband and wireless deployment questions by county and region, separate from fixed home internet availability.

Mobile wireless coverage areas for California broadband deployment.

Coverage: Mobile wireless
Audience: Mobile
Layer type: Coverage areas

Best for: Separate mobile wireless coverage maps once the layer is prepared for browser overlays.

Measures: Coverage area

Additional layer details should be verified during the overlay preparation pass before public filtering is enabled.

How to check your address or county

Use the county map here, then verify address-level coverage

Start with the county selector on this page if you want a fast regional answer: served percentage, adoption rate, and priority unserved households. This is the best view for comparing Fresno County with Los Angeles County, checking rural counties, or explaining where California broadband gaps are concentrated.

If you need an internet coverage map by address, use the official California or FCC address tools after you review the county picture. Address-level maps are better for finding internet providers by address because a provider may serve one side of a road, apartment building, or census block but not another. Enter the full street address, compare reported providers and advertised speeds, and check whether fixed, satellite, mobile, or fixed wireless service is being shown.

Open the California Interactive Broadband Map Open the FCC National Broadband Map

Treat the results as a starting point, not a final bill quote. Broadband maps are based on provider-reported data and public collection cycles. Before ordering service, confirm price, taxes, equipment, installation, speed tier, contract terms, and whether the provider can actually activate service at the exact unit or address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do broadband maps show coverage areas?

Yes. Broadband maps can show coverage areas, provider availability, advertised speeds, adoption, and unserved locations, depending on the layer. This page focuses on county-level California broadband metrics and catalogs the coverage layers that can support more detailed fixed, satellite, business, and mobile overlays.

Which internet is best in California?

The best internet in California depends on the address. Fiber is usually the strongest option when available, cable is often widely available in cities and suburbs, and fixed wireless, satellite, or mobile service may matter more in rural areas. Use the county map for regional context, then verify provider and speed options with an address-level map.

Who has the cheapest internet in California?

The cheapest internet in California varies by address, provider, eligibility, taxes, and equipment fees. Many low-income households should compare Lifeline-compatible internet options, local ISP low-income plans, and any city or county programs before choosing a plan.

Who has internet for $10 a month in California?

Some eligible households can get close to $10 per month, or sometimes less, when a low-income internet plan is combined with the federal Lifeline benefit. Lifeline provides up to $9.25 per month toward phone, internet, or bundled service for qualifying households, but the final price depends on provider availability at the address.

Which California counties show the weakest broadband coverage?

The weakest counties depend on the metric. This page scores counties by combining wired 100/20 availability, fiber availability, mobile 5G 35/3 coverage, fixed adoption, and priority unserved households. Rural mountain and far-northern counties tend to surface first in the current analysis.

Does this show which Lifeline providers cover each county?

No. FCC broadband summaries show reported broadband availability and provider coverage percentages, but they are not the same as Lifeline Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) service-area records. This page uses the broadband data for coverage weakness analysis and links to Lifeline affordability resources separately.

Free or low-cost internet

Think you might qualify for $0-$10/month internet?

If a broadband map shows service at your address but the price is still the barrier, check Lifeline and low-income internet options. The federal Lifeline benefit can lower eligible phone, internet, or bundled service bills, and some households can combine it with participating low-cost internet plans.

See low-cost internet options Check Lifeline eligibility

Data sources and methodology

How this California broadband map companion is built

This page uses public CPUC and FCC broadband deployment, adoption, provider, speed, satellite, business, and mobile wireless data. The live county view is intentionally narrow: it summarizes county-level household deployment, fixed broadband adoption, served households, unserved households, and priority unserved households. That makes the map quick to load and easy to cite, while the coverage layer catalog explains which detailed data can support future overlays.

The broadband weakness score adds the FCC Broadband Data Collection summary release from June 2026. The score weights wired 100/20 gaps, fiber 100/20 gaps, mobile 5G 35/3 stationary coverage gaps, fixed broadband adoption gaps, and priority unserved share. A higher score means the county deserves closer review; it does not mean no provider is present at every address.

The CPUC Broadband Mapping Program describes the California Interactive Broadband Map as a tool for looking up broadband speeds and service providers. The CPUC annual broadband data page identifies the annual collection used for California provider availability data, and the FCC Broadband Data Collection provides national availability data that can be checked against the FCC map. We link to those official sources because this page is meant to make the data easier to understand, not to replace government records.

County percentages are displayed as reported in the source data. Served means fixed broadband offered at at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. Priority unserved means service below 10 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. Adoption is shown as consumer fixed broadband connections divided by households offered service. Provider coverage counts are used as a catalog signal, not as a guarantee that any specific provider can serve a specific address today.

CPUC Broadband Mapping Program CPUC annual collected broadband data FCC Broadband Data Collection FCC National Broadband Map