Top Rural Internet Providers in the U.S.

Rural America should take a moment to rejoice! In comparison to U.S. metropolitans and downtowns, internet availability in rural communities was always faint, but over the years, several notable internet providers, including a few telecom behemoths like AT&T, have made inroads into provision of quality internet to the rural population. Rural America of today has therefore almost said goodbye to the rusty dial-up internet and welcomed fixed wireless, cable broadband, DSL, and satellite internet into their everyday life.

Here are the primary internet connection options for rural areas.

For satellite internet to do its wonders, all you need is a clear sky and a satellite dish installed. Wireless connectivity isn’t widely recommended for online gaming and streaming as latency levels tend to spike more often due to the physics involved, and also because satellite internet usually comes capped in terms of data usage. Also, satellite internet speeds rarely go up to the max possible i.e. 100 Mbps and more or less tend to hover under 50 Mbps. So you must be very careful about what you’d spend most of it on, and if it will be worth the investment.

A good 194 million Americans currently have access to cable internet, which translates into 89% nationwide cable coverage. This scale of coverage is massive. It is believed the upgraded coaxial cable networks, which are now utilizing DOCSIS 3.0 tech, are able to provide cable broadband as fast as 100 Mbps to around 85% households in their footprint. Whereas in regions where the network infrastructure has been upgraded to DOCSIS 3.1 the speed limit gets pushed to Gig-level. Therefore most urban and suburban neighborhoods that suffer from scarce access to an FTTH connection (Fiber Optic coverage is only 25% nationwide), tend to resort to high-speed cable broadband – an option that comes with low latency rates and swift download speeds, complementing the galactic coverage of cable networks. For Rural America too, cable broadband is definitely the most worthwhile option wherever available.

The cheapest internet option these days is a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection. DSL internet is made available to subscribers via copper phone lines, the reason why DSL networks currently cover 90% of the U.S. However, internet speed delivered over DSL connections is considerably slower - except in regions where the DSL network has been boosted by Fiber in the Loop and only the “last mile” from the Node utilizes copper lines, giving you up to 100 Mbps on average. Yet, affordability and widespread availability are two aspects that make DSL internet a good choice for rural households.

With the introduction of Fixed Wireless that now boasts 51% coverage across the U.S., the internet game in Rural America pretty much changed – subscribers who were limited to choosing a satellite or DSL internet connection could now get connected to a Fixed Wireless broadband service, and enjoy low latency with speeds up to 100 Mbps on average. Breakthrough advancement in the field of wireless networking technologies in the near future is only likely to make Fixed Wireless a more sought-after option for rural households.  

Although paving its way towards becoming obsolete, dial-up connections are still an option for residents of rural regions across the U.S. A dial-up connection is established over landlines therefore, you cannot expect its speed to be at par with cable, DSL or even satellite internet. However, given that not a vast cross-section of the rural population tends to indulge in online activities such as streaming, gaming, and excessive surfing, a dial-up connection is still pretty much a feasible option for some.

Turn your frown upside down if you have been unlucky in your hunt to find the best rural internet providers in your area. We have compiled a list of the top satellite, cable, and DSL providers operating in rural regions of the U.S. to help you quicken your search spree.  

From among the four satellite internet providers in the U.S., we recommend HughesNet because of its colossal nationwide coverage and the quality of its service. You would be hard-pressed to find a region in the U.S. that is not encompassed by HughesNet’s satellite service. Serving 50 U.S. states, HughesNet is available to approximately 308 million residents.

As is the case with most satellite internet providers, HughesNet does tend to focus on limiting data consumption - each plan comes with a data cap, and once you have consumed your allocated allowance, you will experience slower internet unless you purchase more data. For most subscribers, however, the Bonus Zone offered by HughesNet becomes the savior. From 2 A.M. to 8 A.M. subscribers get to enjoy 50 GB worth of data every month – and with the ability to schedule downloads through the Download Manager, you are unlikely to find yourself purchase Data Tokens.   

Visit HughesNet to find more about nationwide offerings from the satellite internet provider.

Here are the four HughesNet internet plans on the table:

		(for 6 months)
10 GB	25 Mbps	$49.99/mo.
20 GB	25 Mbps	$59.99/mo.
30 GB	25 Mbps	$89.99/mo.
50 GB	25 Mbps	$139.99/mo.

 

When it comes to DSL internet, you get to pick from 881 providers flocking the U.S., however, only a handful dominate the DSL arena – and among these few, CenturyLink and AT&T are only too well renowned for a number of reasons.

CenturyLink has a network coverage that spans 50 states with the most prominent footprint in Colorado, Arizona, and Washington. Available to over 49 million strong audiences nationwide, which coincidentally makes it America’s 3^rd largest residential DSL provider, CenturyLink is reputed for both DSL and Fiber offerings. As far as rural areas, high-speed CenturyLink DSL is however the sole offer available at this time.

The key selling point of CenturyLink Internet, among the rural communities and beyond, is the Price for Life guarantee. With all high-speed DSL plans from CenturyLink, "the price you see is the price you get forever” – literally! If you stay subscribed to your chosen CenturyLink DSL plan and your billing address doesn’t change either, you shall not face a price hike. The cherry on top is that CenturyLink also doesn’t bind you to a contract. You can come and leave as a free bird – paying your dues on a Month-to-Month basis for as long as you remain a subscriber.

Head to CenturyLink Internet to know more about what CenturyLink puts on the menu.

CenturyLink Internet 15	15 Mbps Speed may not be available in your area.	$49/mo. Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply.	?
CenturyLink Internet 20	20 Mbps Speed may not be available in your area.	$49/mo. Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply.	?
CenturyLink Internet 40-80	80 Mbps Speed may not be available in your area.	$49/mo. Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply.	?
CenturyLink Internet 100	100 Mbps Speed may not be available in your area.	$49/mo. Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply.	?

 

AT&T is the 2^nd largest DSL provider in the U.S. spanning 22 states, with DSL internet available to over 122 million Americans. AT&T also governs 25 million strong audiences with its fiber-optic service. As for rural America, DSL internet from AT&T is the primary preference of a vast cross-section given the repute of the long-reigning telecom giant.

As for the perks galore, you get with your AT&T Internet plan, we would like to highlight a few popular ones. Subscribers get access to over 30,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across all 22 U.S. states. So you won’t have to resort to cellphone data package when in a metropolis. For all 12 Mbps AT&T plans, subscribers get a Wi-Fi Gateway cutting out the hassle of renting out or buying equipment. And also the Smart Home Manager app to help monitor internet usage, control connected devices, and set-up Parental Controls. All for free!

To know more about what you can get with your AT&T subscription, visit AT&T Internet.  

Internet 10	10 Mbps	$49.99/mo.*
Internet 18	18 Mbps	$49.99/mo.*
Internet 25	25 Mbps	$49.99/mo.*
Internet 50	50 Mbps	$49.99/mo.*
Internet 100	100 Mbps	$49.99/mo.*

*Prices are for 12 mos. plus taxes & equipment. fee. $10/mo. equip. fee applies. Incl. 1TB data/mo.; overage chrgs apply. Ltd avail. / areas.

Cable broadband availability in the U.S. is massive. There are 447 cable broadband providers however, in rural America only one stands as the victor. It is none other than Xfinity from Comcast. Cable broadband, in general, has nationwide coverage of 89%. The best part is internet speeds offered aren’t faint either. This internet connection type now possesses the ability to offer download speeds as high as 100 Mbps to 85% of U.S. households - as we mentioned a little earlier too. Additionally, when cable broadband is merged with cable TV, subscribers get to avail themselves of affordable bundles.

 

Xfinity from Comcast is available to approximately 111.6 million U.S. residents across 39 states. Despite being the largest cable broadband provider in the U.S., Xfinity also delivers a fiber-optic service which is currently available in select areas (approx. 18,000 people), so far.

Cable internet is the provider’s prime offering, but subscribers can also opt for cable TV and a home phone service if they deem it fit. Every Xfinity internet plan above the most basic comes equipped with Norton™ Security, Xfinity Flex that makes for easy streaming, and millions of Xfinity Wi-Fi hotpots outspread in regions that fall in its footprint.

We have jotted down available cable broadband plans from Xfinity, but if you are looking to know more, you can take a look at Xfinity Internet.

Performance Starter	25 Mbps	$24.99/mo. For 12 months with 1-year agreement
Performance Select	100 Mbps	$34.99/mo. For 12 months with 1-year agreement
Performance Pro	200 Mbps	$49.99/mo. For 12 months with 1-year agreement
Blast! Pro	300 Mbps	$64.99/mo. For 12 months with 1-year agreement

*Pricing does not include equipment, installation, taxes and fees, and other applicable charges.

All far-flung hamlets where fiber broadband fails to lend a hand, internet types like DSL, cable, and satellite arrive as saviors. You won’t see your internet strength dwindle, some providers have nationwide availability, and some have enticing perks one simply cannot ignore. So if you had been stuck in a dilemma not finding a reliable rural internet provider in the U.S., we want to make things easier for you. Head to BuyTVInternetPhone, insert your ZIP code and find all the providers that currently serve your region. Trust us, you won’t be leaving empty-handed!

As a rural area denizen, you have access to DSL, cable broadband, satellite, and dial-up internet.

Simply head to BuyTVInternetPhone input your ZIP code in the search tool and you will see befitting plans.

When subscribing to CenturyLink, you are not bothered to sign up for a contract. You continue your subscription on a Month-to-Month basis.

All four HughesNet internet plans have a standard download speed of up to 25 Mbps.