Community-Owned Fiber Networks: Value Leaders in America

These datasets contain the raw data from the Berkman Klein Center and Responsive Communities Initiative Publication \"Community-Owned Fiber Networks: Value Leaders in America.\" As described in our report, we used these data to calculate average yearly costs of broadband-minimum internet service from community-owned ISPs and their in-region competitors. These data were collected between November 2015 and September 2016. We collected advertised prices for residential data plans offered by 40 community-owned (typically municipally owned) Internet service providers (ISPs) that offer fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service. We then identified the least-expensive service that meets the federal definition of “broadband”—at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload—and compared advertised prices to those of private competitors in the same markets. We found that most community-owned FTTH networks charged less and offered prices that were clear and unchanging, whereas private ISPs typically charged initial low promotional or “teaser” rates that later sharply rose, usually after 12 months. We were able to make comparisons in 27 communities. We found that in 23 cases, the community-owned FTTH providers’ pricing was lower when averaged over four years. We invite other researchers to make use of the datasets. Please note we have removed the addresses used (when necessary) to generate price quotes. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to learn more.