Achieving Broadband for All in California

 

Report released on December 18, 2025:
Broadband in California: Pricing, Affordability, and Adoption Trends

Access to affordable high-speed internet service is essential for full participation in modern life – yet for many Californians, broadband remains increasingly expensive. The Public Advocates Office’s report Broadband in California: Pricing, Affordability, and Adoption Trends provides a data-driven view of internet service across the state and underscores the importance of prioritizing affordability.

This blog summarizes key findings from the report.

Broadband Is Becoming Less Affordable for Many Californians

Broadband prices set by the largest internet service providers drove a decline in California’s affordability ranking from 2021 to 2023, causing California to fall behind other states and markets tracked by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). For the widely used broadband service tier between 500 megabits per second (Mbps) and 1,000 Mbps, California dropped from the 8th most affordable state in 2021 to the 24th most affordable in 2023.

Put simply, most California households are paying more for the speeds they increasingly need.

Who Sets the Tone on Broadband Prices

Much of what drives broadband prices in California is set by the state’s largest providers: Comcast, Charter, AT&T, Frontier, and Cox – collectively known as the “Big 5.” These providers alone serve approximately 97% of the 10.7 million broadband subscribers identified in our California pricing data report.

Because the FCC’s Urban Rate Survey reflects market reach, pricing from these large providers has an outsized effect on California’s overall affordability picture compared with smaller providers.

Legacy Technology Is Costing Californians More

From 2021 through 2023, prices for internet service delivered over legacy copper telephone lines in the 100 Mbps to 500 Mbps tier increased each year and were higher than comparable fiber and fixed wireless offerings.

For service speeds in the 500 to 1,000 Mbps tier, copper-based plans were, on average, 20% more expensive than fiber plans. Because an overwhelming majority of Californians receive internet service through copper cable in this range, customers are paying about 27% more than those in the most affordable US markets.

Increasing Affordability Concerns May Widen the Digital Divide

The most common internet service in California – 100 to 500 Mbps over copper cable – has an average monthly price of $116.68 and remains unaffordable for many Californians. Using the California Public Utilities Commission’s Affordability Ratio metric, more than one-quarter of the state would be designated as areas of affordability concern for this level of price and broadband connectivity.

(Note: the current Affordability Ratio definition of “discretionary income” does not subtract certain essential costs such as food or healthcare, which can make service appear more affordable than many households experience.)

After the Affordable Connectivity Program

The termination of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program will likely worsen affordability challenges in California. An estimated 5.8 million Californians were eligible to receive monthly discounts for broadband service through the program ($30 per month for qualifying households and $75 per month on Tribal lands).

Immediately following the program end, one large broadband provider reported a loss of 154,000 residential subscriptions. The total number of former program participants in California that have discontinued service as a direct result of the Affordable Connectivity Program ending is unknown.

Moving Forward

With unprecedented levels of state and federal funding now flowing to internet companies to expand broadband infrastructure, California is entering a pivotal period. How providers choose to price service, where they build, and whether they proactively address affordability concerns will shape whether these public investments reduce or widen the digital divide.

Ensuring that state and federal dollars are deployed equitably – and that Californians see meaningful improvements in affordability – will require sustained oversight, transparent data, and continued attention to how providers price service. Our Broadband in California report provides the data, methods, and baseline findings needed to evaluate provider actions and monitor affordability outcomes over time.

What the Broadband in California Report Includes Beyond This Blog

• Data sources and methodology – how FCC Urban Rate Survey data and the Public Advocates Office’s provider pricing data were collected, weighted, and analyzed.
• Definitions and limitations – including how the Affordability Ratio is calculated and what “discretionary income” does and does not include.
• Technology-by-speed comparisons – detailed pricing by fiber, cable, DSL, and fixed wireless across speed tiers.
• Regional and income-level adoption patterns – where affordability concerns are concentrated.
• Provider tables and figures – including FCC Urban Rate Survey weighting that helps explain why the Big 5 shape statewide affordability.
• Appendices and figure notes – sources, caveats, and additional charts for researchers and practitioners.