Broadband Map Variable Dictionary

The table below presents the description and source for each of the variables found in the California residential broadband map. All geographical layers presented are nested within census block groups and thus require no data manipulation, except for cities and towns. For the latter case, a census block group is used in the calculation of city/town averages when at least 50% of the block group area is within the city/town boundary.

VariableDescriptionHow it’s calculatedData source
ServedPercentage of population served by residential broadband at any speedPopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
25/3MbpsPercentage of population served by residential broadband at or above 25/3 Mbps of advertised speedsPopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
100/20 MbpsPercentage of population served by residential broadband at or above 100/20 Mbps of advertised speedsPopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
FiberPercentage of population served by fiber-based (FTTH) servicePopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
CompetitionPercentage of population served by two or more ISPs (any speed)Population-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Competition 25/3Percentage of population served by two or more ISPs offering at least 25/3Mbps of advertised speedsPopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Competition 100/20Percentage of population served by two or more ISPs offering at least 100/20Mbps of advertised speedsPopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Competition FiberPercentage of population served by two or more ISPs offering fiber-based (FTTH) servicePopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Advertised Speed DownAverage advertised download speed in selected geography weighted by populationPopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Advertised Speed UpAverage advertised download speed in selected geography weighted by populationPopulation-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block level dataCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Ookla Test DownloadAverage download speed weighted by number of tests in the selected geographyOokla data is reported in small geolocated tiles. These tiles were spatially joined with census block groups, keeping only those with a minimum of 100 tests. The number of tests in each tile is used as weight for the resulting block group average.Ookla
Ookla Test UpAverage upload speed weighted by number of tests in the selected geographyOokla data is reported in small geolocated tiles. These tiles were spatially joined with census block groups, keeping only those with a minimum of 100 tests. The number of tests in each tile is used as weight for the resulting block group average.Ookla
Fixed AdoptionPercentage of households with fixed broadband service (DSL/Cable/Fiber)Population-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block group level dataAmerican Community Survey (ACS)
Broadband AdoptionPercentage of households with broadband service (any type)Population-weighted average at the selected geography based on census block group level dataAmerican Community Survey (ACS)