PROVIDENCE – Rhode Islanders have some of the fastest Internet connections in the country, according to a list released by ID Insight.
The Northfield, Minn.-based company said Kent County has the second-speediest connections in the nation, trailing only Nassau County, N.Y. ID Insight said it used speed and carrier data generated by its BroadBand Scout database to compile the list.
Every other Rhode Island county except Newport County also made the Top 25 list. Washington County came in at No. 11, Providence County at No. 14 and Bristol County at No. 16.
“The Fastest 25 list ranks the counties that have done the hard work to deliver higher speeds, and are embracing the benefits that can be realized by transacting at higher speeds,” ID Insight President Adam Ellio said in a statement. “Their residents are using these services to improve their everyday lives and their business processes. We’d like to congratulate those counties that made our inaugural Fastest 25 list.”
Cox Communications Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. both provide high-speed Internet access across much of Rhode Island. The companies say their high-speed offerings reach 98 percent and 99 percent of the state, respectively.
Last year, the R.I. Economic Development Corporation received $1.5 million in federal stimulus money to map broadband connections in Rhode Island and develop plans to expand access. The stimulus package included $7.2 billion for broadband projects across the country.
