Simon Migliano, who compiled the Top10VPN shutdown report, told me “Iran’s current nationwide blackout is a blunt instrument intended to crush dissent, starkly different from the sophisticated, slow-burn digital censorship we’re seeing in Russia.”

Today, most Americans subscribe to home broadband internet and own a smartphone, while about four-in-ten say they're online almost constantly.

Compare top satellite internet providers by speed, coverage, pricing, and reliability. Starlink leads, while Viasat and Hughesnet offer rural alternatives.

Trisha Jandoc was an associate writer at CNET covering broadband and everything related to home internet. She graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a focus on multimedia reporting. She was born in the Philippines ...

Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet reportedly bypasses Iran’s nationwide blackout, allowing protesters to stay connected during escalating unrest

A similar pattern emerged in Indonesia during the September 2025 protests, where Calle noted a sharp rise in Bitchat adoption. Analytics showed installs climbing to 12,581 in the country by September 3, outpacing the combined downloads taking place in the U.S. and Russia, amid nationwide demonstrations.

Bedford County is making big strides in closing the digital divide with a major boost in high-speed internet access. Thanks to a $25 million grant from Virginia’s Telecommunication Initiative, thousands of homes and businesses that once struggled with slow or no internet are finally getting connected.

Since 2020, thousands of Haywood County residents have gained access to broadband internet thanks to a series of targeted grant programs. And by 2030, nearly every building and household in the county will have internet.