Revising the Record: Six Stylized Economic Facts About Pre-Covid US Residential Broadband Markets

Abstract

This article reviews available public data on the pre-COVID (2014-2018) residential broadband markets in the United States, and presents six data-driven stylized economic facts about these markets. Broadband was a significant household expenditure. There were very limited numbers of competing residential broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) in most local markets. Service prices have not decreased much over time. Quality competition seems quite important. There was very limited entry by new ISPs. Technological innovation in wireless drove much observed new entry.