FCC Internet Access Report: US Reaches 559 Million Connections, Fixed Broadband Growth at 135 Million

The FCC's Office of Economics and Analytics published its semi-annual Internet Access Services Report on May 8, 2026 (covering data through June 30, 2025). Key findings: total US internet connections reached 559 million, up 1.9% year-over-year; mobile connections totaled 424 million (+1.9%); and fixed broadband connections grew to 135 million (+1.6%). The report was released in the context of ongoing BEAD program debates about whether satellite broadband or fiber should be prioritized for the final ~7 million unserved US locations. The Benton Institute's May 12 digest highlighted the report's data as a baseline for evaluating BEAD program effectiveness as implementation accelerates through 2026.