As families across the country closely manage their household budgets, one essential service has quietly delivered more value without driving up costs: home internet.
In a new op-ed published in The Washington Times, NCTA President & CEO Cory Gardner highlights an often-overlooked reality — while Americans are using dramatically more data than ever before, internet prices have remained largely stable.
At a time when households depend on connectivity for work, education, health care and entertainment, that stability matters.
More usage. More speed. Same price.
The numbers tell a clear story:
- The average household now uses more than 600 gigabytes of data per month, up from just 50 gigabytes a decade ago.
- The typical family pays about $75 per month for internet service — roughly 1% of household income, well below the FCC’s 2% affordability benchmark.
- The price per megabit of speed has dropped 98% since 2000.
In other words, Americans are getting exponentially more value for essentially the same price.
Gardner explains that this isn’t accidental. It’s the result of sustained private investment and robust competition across cable, fiber, fixed wireless, satellite and mobile providers. According to the FCC, 96% of Americans now have access to multiple high-speed internet options, up from less than 20% just a decade ago.
That competitive pressure doesn’t just improve home internet — it’s reshaping the wireless market, too. Cable’s entry into mobile service has driven down prices, saving consumers $5 billion in 2025 alone and contributing to an overall 4% drop in mobile plan prices.
At the same time, providers continue expanding low-cost options. Plans priced between $15 and $30 per month have helped connect more than 14 million Americans, with adoption among households earning less than $25,000 rising significantly in recent years.
As Gardner writes, “when consumers rely on something this much, the last thing they need is runaway costs. So far, the sector has delivered — and that’s a success story worth protecting.”
Read Cory Gardner’s full op-ed in The Washington Times.
