DSL, the Slowest Technology, Remains the One Most Available in Rural

• Digital deserts exist, more so in rural areas.
• The urban-rural access divide is sizeable and still persists.
• A little less than half of housing units in the country are sliced up in between either top 6 only providers or other providers only.
• The technology with the largest footprint in the nation (DSL) also has the lowest median advertised speeds pointing to a potential quality of service issue.
• “Other only” providers advertised to a larger share of rural housing units compared to Top 6. Therefore, federal incentives and state broadband programs need to ensure these providers also receive funds to expand or upgrade infrastructure.
• Lastly, given that median advertised speeds are higher when more providers overlap, overbuilding concerns need to be reconsidered.

[Roberto Gallardo, Ph.D., is assistant director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development. Brian Whitacre is a Sarkeys Distinguished Professor at Oklahoma State University.]