Fiber TV and Internet Providers in Your Area

Enter your zip code below to find fiber TV and internet providers near you. Fiber is an emerging technology and might not be available in your area. Click here to see all types of TV and Internet plans available near you.

 

Fiber Optic Internet by Zip Code

Fiber by City

Where is fiber available?

Fiber internet is highly coveted, especially among high-tech housholds. As the map shows, states like Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, New York State, and New Jersey have bigger cities and more densely populated areas tend to have greater fiber service. Tiny Rhode Island, for example, has fiber service to about 85% of homes versus only 40% of the United States. West Virginia lags behind the rest of the neation with a depressing 7% fiber coverage. So fiber coverage varies dramatically by region, but also within a city. Enter your zip above to see coverage in your area.

Fiber Availability by State


 

What is fiber internet?

Fiber optic is a type of super-fast internet. It uses fiber optic cables (effectively thin glass tubes) to transmit data more quickly than traditional DSL internet. ‘Data' here meaning everything you do on the internet: downloading or uploading files, streaming content, playing games, using messaging apps—the lot.

The technical explanation

The vast majority of broadband connections are made over copper wiring. DSL connections piggyback on your phone line, while cable runs through a thicker copper cable called coaxial cable. In either case, this copper line runs from your home to the local exchange and, since it was originally designed for other purposes, it’s quite inefficient for internet data transfer.

Fiber optic is totally different. It transfers information by sending pulses of infrared light through an optical fiber and provides greater bandwidth, longer distance transmission, and zero electromagnetic interference. Fiber optic's drastically superior bandwidth means it can support intense home broadband activity very easily. For Internet Service Providers (ISPs, the companies that install and operate internet networks) installing fiber is as much about future proofing as it is about meeting today’s demand.

Here's a quick overview of the main technical differences between fiber and copper lines:

Parameter
Fiber Optic
Copper
Bandwidth
60+ Tbps
10 Gbps
Distance
12+ miles @ 10,000Mbps
300 feet @ 1,000Mbps
Noise
Immune
Susceptible to EM/RFI interference, crosstalk and voltage surges
Security
Nearly impossible to tap
Susceptible to tapping
Lifecycle
30-50 Years
5 Years
Weight/1,000 ft.
4 Lbs.
39 Lbs.

 

Is fiber the best internet option? How bandwidth and latency affect your experience

What is bandwidth?
What is latency?
Bandwidth is the maximum data capacity of your internet connection.
Latency is the time delay between taking an action (like clicking a link) and the action being completed.
Higher bandwidth is better.
Lower latency (less delay) is better.

Most ISPs promote bandwidth (i.e. the number megabytes transferred per second) as the sole indicator of speed. And it is very important: fiber optics provide more than 1,000x the bandwidth of copper lines. This means normal internet users can stream, download, upload, and consume much more data (much faster) than with cable or DSL.

But latency is also crucial and often overlooked. If you’ve never heard of latency, it’s essentially another word for “lag”. High latency can ruin online video gaming, video calls, or live streaming and make for a painful online experience in general.

Here are a few examples for different internet activities:

Activity
Bandwidth effect
Latency effect
Browsing + email
Minimal, though really poor bandwidth will make loading large emails or accessing multiple pages slow and cumbersome.
Minimal, though particularly high latency will cause a frustrating experience.
Online gaming
Minimal. Since most data is stored locally on the console, gamers don’t actually need to process very much data while playing.
Significant. High latency causes delays between your input and the on-screen action, which can ruin your experience and performance.
Streaming content
Significant. Especially for HD or 4K viewing, limited bandwidth will cause continuous buffering or low video quality. The lower the bandwidth, the worse these effects become.
Negligible. After hitting ‘play', there's no further input from your side.
Broadcasting
Moderate. If your bandwidth is too small, your viewers will see choppier, lower-quality video.
Significant, especially when interacting with the broadcast audience (such as Twitch streaming or taking live questions) as there will be delays between your actions and them appearing on-screen.
Video calling
Significant. Low bandwidth will cause video quality to decrease, transforming your friends or colleagues into chunky pixels.
Significant. High latency causes sync issues, freeze frames, and those overlapping conversations you've probably experienced on Zoom or Skype.

The strength of fiber optic broadband is emphasized when multiple high-usage devices are connected simultaneously. On a DSL connection, 4K streaming and video calling and browsing would take a huge toll on overall speed; with fiber, there should be no drop in performance.

Fiber broadband also benefits from symmetrical speeds. This means that both download and upload speeds are identical. Since upload speeds are notoriously slow on standard internet connections, this is a massive advantage for fiber users.

 

So why isn't everyone using fiber broadband?

There are a few sides to this. For one, fiber is simply less available than DSL and cable. As a much more established technology, DSL is currently available to over 90.2% of the US population, with cable not far behind at 89.3%. Fiber, however, has only reached 40.5%.

The vast majority of fiber is in large cities. For most Americans, access to fiber simply doesn’t exist. For some users, the lightning-fast speeds of fiber internet are unnecessary—this is generally true for older generations for whom the internet is useful, but not a primary outlet for socializing or entertainment.

Up to around 300 Mbps, cable versus fiber optic internet will feel similar to most users. Gamers will appreciate the lower latency (ping/lag) that usually comes with fiber. Cable's weakness is slow upload speeds: as we’ve seen this impacts sharing files, streaming, making video calls, and working from home.

But for those who can access fiber and might benefit from its unique features, the biggest objection is probably cost.

 

Is fiber optic more expensive?

Monthly payments for fiber optic are generally higher than for DSL or cable—but the gap is definitely shrinking. For comparable download speeds, cable and fiber optic prices are becoming almost indistinguishable. This is partly because the cost of fiber installation is dropping (which directly impacts price) while cable companies are notorious for hiking their prices over time—something fiber ISPs seem reluctant to do.

The other huge aspect is that fiber optic offers customers an experience which other technologies can’t match—and that comes at a cost. With a gigabit fiber connection, a house of 10 gamers could play on cutting-edge consoles all day, while streaming Netflix in 4K, without a hitch in performance. There is just no comparison.

Symmetrical speeds and massive bandwidth mean that fiber should cost more. If anything, it’s surprising that ISPs aren’t charging even higher monthly rates for this game-changing technology. Not that we’re complaining! In terms of bang for your buck, fiber optic might be worth every dime, especially for the modern household.

When comparing broadband prices, always check those specific to your area and pay attention to upload and download speeds. Historic or ‘average’ prices are unreliable indicators. Use our ZIP code checker to find fiber offers in your local area.

 

Do I need fiber broadband?

If available, we recommend customers take an honest look at their internet needs. Fiber optic broadband is brilliant, but it can be expensive and deliver excessive performance. DSL broadband has the dual benefit of being fast enough for many customers, but with lower prices.

This is certainly true for light internet users. But for more intensive internet activity—such as playing video games or streaming 4K content—DSL often falls short. A single occupant could devour a 20Mbps DSL connection on their own, never mind a large family or group of students. Users with multiple security cameras should also definitely lean towards fiber internet.

So do you need fiber optic? Let’s find out:

  1. Do you experience buffering, lag, low resolution video, or other common symptoms of weak broadband? And…
  2. Are you currently using the fastest non-fiber broadband available to you?

If you've answered ‘No' to #1, then you almost certainly don't need to upgrade your broadband right now. For everyone else, it's worth investigating: look up local providers, check prices and speeds, then take it from there.

 

The 3 types of fiber optic broadband connection

Contrary to popular opinion, using optical fibers to carry internet signals isn’t new. In fact, the sprawling network of subsea cables that connect the United States and other countries to the rest of the world are all fiber optic. They’re heavily reinforced to survive the ocean environment, but it’s the same technology. In fact most internet traffic will travel along fiber optic cables (known as the internet's “backbone”) at some point from the start and endpoints.

While these massive cables do most of the legwork, the final delivery into our homes is typically done by coaxial cable or copper wires—cable and DSL. While the purest fiber broadband is carried by fiber optic cables right up to the home, there are actually 3 different types of fiber connection. And unfortunately, they aren’t all equal.

Fiber to the Node/Neighborhood
(FTTN)
Fiber to the Curb
(FTTC)
Fiber to the Home
(FTTH)
Data is transferred on existing coaxial or copper cables between the local internet exchange and the home.
The fiber cabling reaches the home’s nearest telecommunications pole or closet. The remaining distance is covered through cable or DSL.
The crème of fiber optic connections, here the fiber cabling goes directly into the household.
This is the most cost and manpower-efficient way of bringing fiber to homes. Unfortunately, failing to connect the “last mile” has a cost in terms of more limited bandwidth, more lag, and lower speeds.
This can serve multiple customers at once, for example an apartment block.
This connection provides the highest possible bandwidth and fastest speeds.
Homes may be several miles from the nearest exchange.
Homes may be hundreds of yards from the nearest closet.
Connection is specific to each individual home and isn’t shared.

The available speeds for FTTN or FTTC connections are massively dependent on distance to the node or closet. The further the distance, the worse the connection. It’s possible for FTTC connections to range anywhere from 100+ Mbps download (within 100 yards) to 15 Mbps (around a mile away).

That’s why it’s crucial to always get a reliable speed estimate for your exact property location if switching to fiber. When ISPs advertise their speeds, these are almost always for their fastest FTTH connections. If you're being sold “fiber” at a maximum speed of 50 Mbps, for example, you almost definitely are not getting fiber to the home, which is the service type most people praise.

Why isn't every installation FTTH?

There are two standout reasons: cost and infrastructure. Running fiber cables to a neighborhood or closet requires major earthworks and takes a long time. The additional cost of running fiber into each individual home is often prohibitive—after all, there’s already DSL or cable infrastructure in place. FTTH is much more common in new properties without existing copper lines.

The good news is that these ‘last mile’ connections are often temporary, with FTTH planned further down the line. If you’re currently only offered a FTTN connection, keep an eye out for updates!

 

Who are the main fiber broadband providers?

While fiber is expensive to install, it has now reached over 20% of the US population. The vast majority of this comes from 5 providers:

  1. Verizon
  2. AT&T
  3. Frontier Communications
  4. CenturyLink
  5. Google Fiber

We have compiled availability maps for each of these providers. In addition to nationwide coverage, our maps include a fiber optic internet coverage map. See the individual provider to see coverage.

 

Verizon

Verizon is the current kingpin of fiber broadband development and delivery. The telecoms giant covers twice the number of homes as its nearest competitor (AT&T) and currently reaches 10.7% of all Americans across these 10 states:

What's most impressive about Verizon Fios is the consistent top-of-the-range symmetrical speeds. There are multiple packages available:

Plan
Price (from)
Download/upload speed
Internet 200/200
$49.99
200 Mbps
Internet 300/300
$49.99
300 Mbps
Internet 400/400
$69.99
400 Mbps
Internet 500/500
$69.99
500 Mbps
Fios Gigabit Connection
$89.99
Up to 940 Mbps

Prices vary by area, subject to change. Enter your zip code and click to the provider for more info

 

Symmetrical speeds

The term means that both download and upload speeds are identical—an important and often overlooked component of broadband.

Verizon doesn't lock customers into long-term contracts and its reliability and speed are among the best in the country. This makes their competitive pricing even more impressive: for the lower-speed connections in particular, Verizon completely out-muscles competing ISPs.

Verizon availability map

 

AT&T

AT&T currently offers 5 separate fiber packages including full fiber (FTTH) connections. The company has recently said it will no longer service pure DSL broadband service, selling only pure fiber and hybrid fiber (such as fiber to the node) service. This controversial move may leave hundreds of thousands of rural customers with no option besides fixed wireless service.

Plan
Price (from)
Download speed
Internet 300
$60
300 Mbps
Internet 500
$70
500 Mbps
Internet 1 Gig
$85
1000 Mbps
Internet 2 Gig
$115
2000 Mbps
Internet 5 Gig
$185
5000 Mbps

Prices vary by area, subject to change. Enter your zip code and click to the provider for more info

 

Available to approximately 36 million people—mostly across the south-eastern states and California—AT&T is known for delivering competitively-priced, reliable connections. But where Verizon's entry-level package impressed on cost, it's AT&T's Gigabit plan which blows us away.

AT&T's price for 940Mbps download and 880Mbps upload broadband with no data cap is excellent among large internet providers. In some cases you may need to bundle services to get this deal. All of this assumes lucky enough to have AT&T Gigabit fiber service to your home.

AT&T availability map

 

Frontier Communications

Frontier offers its fiber broadband service to around 9.5 million people. In terms of speeds, the FiberOptic 500 is outstanding value for money: it's only a bit more than the 50 package and considerably cheaper than both Verizon and AT&T's competing deals. For the vast majority of users, 500 Mbps symmetrical broadband is more than ample. If you need that extra boost you can go with the 1000 Gig service.

Plan
Pricing*
(per mo. starting at)
Max Speed
Fiber 500/500
$54.99
500 Mbps
Fiber 1 Gig Service
$79.99
1000 Mbps
Fiber 2 Gig Service
$154.99
2000 Mbps

Prices vary by area, subject to change. Enter your zip code and click to the provider for more info

Frontier availability map

 

Centurylink

CenturyLink is best-known for its widespread DSL network and offers just one fiber connection: its 940 Mbps Gigabit broadband. This is currently available in the following cities:

While CenturyLink has a reputation for inconsistent or disappointing broadband speeds, this is almost exclusively from its DSL offers. The fiber broadband with 940 Mbps speeds is well respected.

Plan
Price (from)
Download/upload speed
Fiber Internet
$70+
940 Mbps

Prices vary by area, subject to change. Enter your zip code and click to the provider for more info

 

Centurylink availability map

 

Google Fiber

Google tends to excel in every field it enters, and fiber broadband is no exception. Their gigabit internet is consistently ranked among the fastest, most effortlessly reliable connections in the country.

The only problem is availability. Here are the cities where Google Fiber is available:

If it's possible to get your hands on Google Fiber then it's as reliable, performant, and as good a deal as you could ask for.

Google fiber availability map

 

Can I choose between multiple providers?

With the exception of companies like EarthLink, there is a lack of variety and healthy competition between ISPs in cities. Competition typically leads to better deals and lower pricing, as well as allowing customers to switch if their provider's service or speeds aren’t up to scratch.

Unfortunately, local authorities don’t want ISPs draping fiber optic lines everywhere so you're not likely to have a choice of fiber providers for the foreseeable future. Internet providers are expanding fiber coverage rapidly, especially to new neighborhoods and larger cities, so it's worth investigating.

Use the ZIP code checker to see what’s available in your local area.

How can I get fiber broadband in my hometown?

Most fiber networks are available to densely-populated cities and operated by large private companies. In general, anyone living outside these cities—and especially in rural areas—will have to settle for local cable or DSL coverage.

Even so, many large towns and cities will be waiting a long time before private fiber networks reach their homes. As a result some have started building their own fiber broadband infrastructure.

 

Municipal fiber broadband

A growing number of towns and small cities are installing their own, community-owned and operated fiber broadband networks. These tend to have lower pricing, aren't subject to market fluctuations, and cut out the uncertainty of waiting around for a large private ISP.

Longmont Colorado offers its 100,000-person town a community-owned broadband service, with two options: 25 Mbps or 1 Gbps, both with exceptional pricing. Amazingly, the town of Monticello in Minnesota offers all community members 1 Gbps symmetrical broadband for 30%-50% less than large providers. Utopia was built out by a coalition of Utah towns, and offers what is widely held as the best internet service in the Salt Lake Valley. Municipal fiber, looking to provide service rather than rake in profits, is often a significantly better deal.

So while massive ISPs are prioritizing particular cities, it’s still possible to have fiber broadband installed just about anywhere in the country—as long as it can be paid for.

 

Can I get TV over fiber?

TV is typically available over fiber service. Even small providers will usually contract with a third party to connect TV service. For large providers like AT&T, Frontier, and Verizon, fiber TV is actively encouraged and usually comes with special pricing offers. The exceptional bandwidth and speed provided by fiber allows customers to access more channels, sharper pictures, and higher fidelity audio.

At present, fiber TV from the big 3 providers is available in select cities across the following states:

Both fiber and satellite TV have happier TV customers than cable, and generally offer more stable pricing, so it's worth investigating both options.

 

What affects my broadband speed?

There are a few factors which contribute to getting the best possible speed. The most crucial is the connection to your ISP—the package purchased from the internet provider—which dictates maximum possible speeds. As for the actual speeds, there are a few factors:

  • Connected devices – More devices using the internet simultaneously means diluted bandwidth, potentially affecting the experience of all users.
  • Distance to the street node– As discussed, speeds for FTTN and FTTC connections are significantly affected by distance. The smaller the distance, the better the speeds. In general there is no way to know how far away your connection is, but lower maximum speeds than your neighbors is a good sign.
  • Quality of hardware – Older computers with less powerful processors may struggle to provide the highest speeds. Similarly, older routers and modems may hinder performance.
  • Time of day – Internet connections can become congested at peak times. 8pm to 10pm is typically the busiest window for internet users and speeds may be affected during this time.

If you ever experience unexpectedly slow speeds with no obvious cause, your first port of call should be to contact your ISP—they’ll know if there’s any local outage and advise on troubleshooting.

 

What equipment do I need for fiber?

Every broadband customer needs a modem and router in order to use the internet.

  • Fiber modem – Connects your home to the wider internet network. Check with your ISP to make sure you get the right kind if it is not supplied.
  • Router – Allows your devices (wired and wireless) to connect simultaneously.

These can arrive as a 2-in-1 piece of kit or as separate items. For customers who already own a router, note that while they should still work fine, depending on their age and quality they could also restrict your fiber optic's speed potential. Both modem and router should have max speeds at or above the service speed—for example, 1 Gbps for Gigabit fiber.

Most ISPs will ‘rent' customers the required equipment for a fee. Until very recently, ISPs could charge this rental cost even if customers used their own equipment. This controversial fee has now been outlawed. In general, rental fees are far more expensive in the long run, and most customers are better off buying their own equipment if they are willing to research technical products. For customers also enjoying fiber TV, an additional TV box will usually be required—again rented from the provider.

These additional costs are not usually included in the provider's quote, so make sure you have all the pricing information before committing to a deal.

 

The final word—should I get fiber if it's available?

For the vast majority of users, having fiber broadband will eliminate all the common frustrations of using the internet: lag, jittery connections, low resolution video, glitchy calls and so on. Not only that, but it will future-proof the home for years to come. Many of us think that waiting for pages to load and videos to buffer is just ‘how the internet works’—with fiber, all of that just disappears.

Do your research, think about your needs, and then if you think fiber is right for you, then go ahead—you won’t regret it.

Below are other ways to find out where fiber internet service is available.

 

Fiber by County

The more granular you can get in your search for fiber internet the better, but we can also compare larger county areas and give general guidance on who to call for potential service. Below are some of the counties with the best fiber coverage in the country, with the best being first (and the second best being below it).

 

Fiber by City and Metro

Below are the top cities for fiber coverage in the United States. You can also use the search box at the top of this page if you live in a smaller area or don't know your zip code.

 

Fiber by Neighborhood

Below are the top US neighborhoods for Fiber internet coverage.

 

The Easy Way to Find Fiber: by Zip

If you haven't yet entered your zip code or found your area, and you know the zip code where you're searching for service, simply entering your zip code is the easiest way for most people.

Here are some of the top zip codes for fiber service. Don't be afraid to enter your zip code, though. We don't store the zip code, and your information is not tracked. This tool is purely to direct you to the proper fiber provider.