Americans rely on broadband for just about everything — working remotely, running small businesses, streaming entertainment, accessing telehealth, staying connected with family and friends. As internet service becomes more central to daily life, the value households receive for that service matters more than ever.
A new analysis of FCC data shows that the value is improving.
According to a report from the Phoenix Center examining the FCC’s Urban Rate Survey, real broadband prices declined between 2024 and 2025 — even as available speeds continued to increase.
Meaningful declines at popular speeds
When comparing the same services year over year, the report finds overall broadband prices fell by about 8%, with estimates consistently landing in the 7%–9% range.
Some of the most popular speed tiers saw even larger drops:
- 500 Mbps plans declined by 13%.
- Gig (1,000 Mbps) plans declined by 9%.
These are significant reductions at the speeds many households now choose as streaming, gaming and connected devices continue to grow.
Cable broadband prices also decreased
The report also looked at pricing by technology and found:
- Cable broadband prices declined by roughly 9%.
- At the widely offered 300 Mbps tier, cable prices dropped by 14%.
Taken together, the data show that across major speed tiers and across cable broadband specifically, prices trended downward over the past year.
Expanding affordability options
Beyond advertised market prices, cable broadband providers also continue to offer dedicated low-cost options for eligible households.
Many cable providers participate in programs that make home internet available for approximately $15 to $30 per month for qualifying families. Today, about 92% of U.S. households have access to at least one of these discounted broadband programs.
While the FCC’s Urban Rate Survey focuses on generally available plan pricing, these low-cost offerings are an important part of the broader affordability landscape — helping ensure more Americans can get online and stay connected.
Bottom line
As broadband becomes more essential to how Americans live and work, this new analysis shows consumers are seeing measurable price declines — including at the most popular and higher-speed tiers.
The combination of falling prices for comparable services and widely available discounted options underscores a clear trend: households are getting more speed and more value from their broadband service.
