Why the Providers at Your Address Might Be Wrong (And How to Double-Check)
Most comparison sites don't explain where their coverage data actually comes from. We think you should be able to see exactly how confident to be in what we show you — so here's the honest mechanics, including where it can be wrong.
What our data actually is
Every result on this site traces back to the FCC's Broadband Data Collection — a federal filing every internet provider is legally required to submit twice a year, reporting exactly which locations it serves and at what speeds. It's the same dataset behind the government's own National Broadband Map, and it's the most complete coverage data that exists publicly. It is not, however, a live, real-time database — it's a snapshot, refreshed roughly every six months.
The specific gap: address vs. census block
The precise address-level version of this data (down to the individual building) is licensed, proprietary data we don't have access to — it isn't free or public. What we use instead: when you type your address, we match it to its census block — typically a single city block, sometimes a bit larger in rural areas — using the U.S. Census Bureau's public address lookup, and show every provider that reported service somewhere in that block. This is highly accurate the large majority of the time. Where it can be wrong:
- A provider serves most of your block, but not your specific building — common in fiber build-outs that skip one side of a street, or apartment complexes with exclusive wiring arrangements with one provider.
- New construction — a subdivision or apartment building completed after the last filing date won't be in the data yet, even if service is actually available.
- Recent fiber expansion — providers sometimes light up a new street before their next required filing catches up.
- Provider over-reporting — filings are self-reported, and enforcement of accuracy has historically been imperfect; a provider can technically be "capable" of serving an address without an active, working connection ready to sell you today.
How to double-check before you commit
- Enter your exact address on the provider's own site — most run a live serviceability checker at signup, which is closer to real-time than any federal filing.
- Call and ask directly — "is service active and installable at [address] today?" is a more useful question than anything a website can answer.
- Ask neighbors — a neighbor with an active connection from the provider you're considering is the strongest confirmation there is.
Why we show it this way anyway
Even with these gaps, federal filing data is dramatically better than guessing, and it catches the two things that matter most: whether a technology (especially fiber) has reached your area at all, and roughly what speed to expect. Treat our results as a genuinely well-informed shortlist — narrow the field from "every provider in Texas" to "these 4 likely candidates," then do the 30-second serviceability check on whichever ones interest you before ordering.