FCC Publishes Updates to December 2024 BDC Data
The National Broadband Map is updated using data from ongoing Broadband Data Collection (BDC) efforts. Since June 2022, internet service providers (ISPs) have been required to submit detailed service availability data, which the FCC validates to track broadband access nationwide. After each release, Cartesian analyzes the latest changes to provide actionable insights that help telco industry leaders align their strategies with evolving broadband coverage trends.
The FCC released its latest Broadband Data Collection (BDC) on May 12, 2025, reflecting broadband availability data through December 2024. This sixth round of BDC reporting was revised on June 10, 2025, following the FCC’s challenge process. As outlined in a previous Cartesian blog post, these updates help improve the accuracy of national broadband data and inform smarter decisions across the telecom industry.
How Are Updates Made to Broadband Data?
After each BDC reporting cycle, consumers and state, local, and Tribal governments can submit challenges to correct inaccuracies in reported broadband coverage. Once validated, these updates are incorporated into the FCC’s revised dataset. The June 10 update includes those corrections – underscoring the vital role of stakeholder engagement in shaping reliable broadband data.
June 10 Updates to BDC Dataset for December 2024
Below are the key updates as of June 10 to the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) dataset for December 2024. Originally published on May 12, 2025, the dataset covers more than 737 million data points across 115.8 million residential locations. Cartesian analyzes the changes to BDC data by evaluating the best technology offered at residential locations by each provider.
Since the initial release, approximately 1.05 million updates have been made to service footprints or broadband technologies based on the FCC’s challenge process, resulting in a net decline of about 200,000 reported connections.
Takeaways:
1) Astound revises broadband coverage
- So far, changes to Astound’s footprint comprise approximately 75 percent of all location-level updates made since the dataset’s May 12 publication.
- These changes affect 625,365 locations:
- 466,099 locations were removed
- 159,265 locations had technology updates
- One net-new fiber location was added
- Astound’s footprint as of Dec 31, 2024 includes 2.7 million residential locations, down from 3.1 million reported last month:
2) Coverage updates continue as BEAD program changes approach
- Growth in Unlicensed Fixed Wireless Access (FWA):
- Providers added approximately 200,000 new residential Unlicensed FWA service locations, accounting for nearly 20 percent of all location-level changes.
- 43 percent of new Unlicensed FWA connections deliver speeds exceeding 100/20 Mbps, and just 1% are “unserved” locations below 25/3mbps.
- Unlicensed FWA growth has outpaced Licensed FWA growth by a factor of six.
- Fiber Growth Continues:
- Excluding Astound, providers added approximately 42,000 residential fiber connections.
- Additional residential fiber deployment trends were highlighted in Cartesian’s recent analysis of the Dec 31, 2024 BDC dataset release.
3) Residential broadband access by state
- Recent BDC updates have not significantly changed the availability of broadband service (low-latency 100 Mbps down / 20 Mbps up, excluding Unlicensed FWA and Satellite) for most locations.
- Washington and Texas saw the highest number of locations revised to reflect a lack of qualifying broadband connectivity, at 15,042 and 6,619, respectively.
- Vermont saw a 5 percent increase in broadband-enabled locations, adding 11,622 connections.
State-level residential broadband availability:
| State / Territory | Previous % Broadband Access | Revised % Broadband Access | Change (%) | Change (#) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | 73% | 73% | 0% | - |
| AL | 86% | 86% | 0% | 1,462 |
| AR | 88% | 88% | 0% | - |
| AZ | 93% | 93% | 0% | - |
| CA | 95% | 95% | 0% | 124 |
| CO | 93% | 93% | 0% | - |
| CT | 98% | 98% | 0% | - |
| DC | 100% | 100% | 0% | (56) |
| DE | 98% | 98% | 0% | - |
| FL | 95% | 95% | 0% | (3) |
| GA | 94% | 94% | 0% | - |
| HI | 95% | 95% | 0% | - |
| IA | 93% | 93% | 0% | - |
| ID | 85% | 85% | 0% | 115 |
| IL | 94% | 94% | 0% | 146 |
| IN | 94% | 94% | 0% | - |
| KS | 93% | 93% | 0% | - |
| KY | 88% | 88% | 0% | - |
| LA | 86% | 86% | 0% | (2) |
| MA | 99% | 99% | 0% | - |
| MD | 98% | 98% | 0% | (126) |
| ME | 90% | 90% | 0% | - |
| MI | 92% | 92% | 0% | (4) |
| MN | 94% | 94% | 0% | - |
| MO | 90% | 90% | 0% | - |
| MS | 85% | 85% | 0% | (3) |
| MT | 78% | 78% | 0% | - |
| NC | 91% | 91% | 0% | (1) |
| ND | 99% | 99% | 0% | - |
| NE | 92% | 92% | 0% | - |
| NH | 96% | 96% | 0% | - |
| NJ | 99% | 99% | 0% | (106) |
| NM | 89% | 89% | 0% | - |
| NV | 95% | 95% | 0% | - |
| NY | 96% | 96% | 0% | (1,185) |
| OH | 94% | 94% | 0% | - |
| OK | 91% | 91% | 0% | - |
| OR | 91% | 91% | 0% | (3,789) |
| PA | 95% | 95% | 0% | (1,006) |
| RI | 97% | 97% | 0% | - |
| SC | 95% | 95% | 0% | - |
| SD | 94% | 94% | 0% | - |
| TN | 95% | 95% | 0% | 4 |
| TX | 94% | 94% | 0% | (6,619) |
| UT | 95% | 95% | 0% | - |
| VA | 90% | 90% | 0% | (27) |
| VT | 83% | 87% | 5% | 11,622 |
| WA | 90% | 89% | -1% | (15,042) |
| WI | 85% | 85% | 0% | - |
| WV | 77% | 77% | 0% | - |
| WY | 85% | 85% | 0% | - |
| Grand Total | 93% | 93% | 0% | (14,496) |
The FCC will continue updating the Broadband Map as data is validated through the challenge process. If your organization needs support navigating BDC data complexity, assessing BEAD or competitive implications, or enhancing broadband strategy, reach out to Cartesian today. With over 35 years of expertise in TMT-focused strategy consulting, data & analytics, content security, due diligence, and more, we can help you move forward with confidence.
