RVA consumer study reinforces high-quality fiber broadband is a necessity, not a luxury

Today at Fiber Connect 2023, the Fiber Broadband Association and RVA LLC Market Research & Consulting (RVA) released an annual consumer research report titled, “The Status of U.S. Broadband: The Growing Preference to Fiber Broadband.” The 2023 study reveals fiber broadband is considered the best internet service delivery method in terms of speed and reliability among 63% of all U.S. consumers, including 54% of cable users.

The NTIA’s $42.45 billion BEAD program prioritizes fiber projects because of fiber’s ability to replace aging copper and coax wiring and provide vital, scalable telecommunications infrastructure for generations to come. The consumer research study demonstrates the importance and preference for fiber by consumers as well.

The study found that the underlying demand for high-quality broadband remains strong, as it was rated the second most important amenity in a home, only after a laundry room. Consumers show high interest in many future broadband applications which will increasingly require faster and more symmetrical internet, especially applications to support telehealth, senior independence, and home security. When all respondents were asked what type of internet service was the very best in terms of speed and reliability, fiber broadband won by a large majority with scores 2.5 times higher than the second candidate (cable).

The Fiber Broadband Association expects nearly as much fiber will be deployed during the next five years as has been deployed throughout history. In terms of market share, fiber broadband continues to gain on cable. Further, among the 17% of consumers changing internet service providers in the past two years, fiber delivery had a net gain of 15 market share points, while cable delivery had a loss of 14 share points. This is true even though cable service is currently almost twice as available as fiber in the U.S.

“These results underscore the fact that high-speed broadband is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity for any person to successfully participate in today’s society,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “We’ve known how important broadband is to the U.S., and every year this study reveals that the preference for fiber broadband is growing wildly. Connecting every community to fiber will enable digital equality and raise the quality of life for generations to come.”

“The Status of U.S. Broadband” annual report is built on consumer research, sponsored by Fiber Broadband Association, and conducted by RVA. The study focuses on internet use among U.S. online customers and the 2023 edition, conducted in May 2023, had a sample size of 4,000.

Mike Render, Founder and CEO of RVA, will present findings from the 2023 study on an episode of Fiber for Breakfast on Wednesday, October 11, at 10:00 AM EDT. Register here for the episode. Learn more about the Fiber Broadband Association’s full library of research and resources at fiberbroadband.org/research-and-resources.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

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