University of Wisconsin–Madison

How Local Providers Built the Nation’s Best Internet Access in Rural North Dakota

Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2020
Level City or Town, State
State(s) North Dakota
Policy Areas Community Development, Data & Technology
Rural North Dakota has some of the greatest internet connectivity in the country. In fact, according to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data, rural North Dakotans are more likely to have access to gigabit speeds and fiber broadband than the state’s urban residents—even more likely than urban Americans in general. North Dakota’s top-notch rural connectivity is a result of aggressive investment in fiber by the state’s telephone cooperatives and independent companies; these local providers have connected the majority of the state to high-speed fiber networks. This report outlines the development, growth, and success of North Dakota’s fiber networks, setting an example for municipalities seeking to circumvent monopoly control of broadband technology.

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