Rabun County ranks among nation's slowest for internet speeds

Slow internet in GA; Ride Chee Strong; drive-thru pumpkin

One North Georgia county has been ranked among the worst in the nation for slow internet speeds according to a new study; the annual Ride Chee Strong event to make the anniversary of the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder is coming up; and the "world's largest drive-thru pumpkin" is taking shape at Burt's Pumpkin Farm. 

RABUN COUNTY, Ga. - Rabun County is among the lowest-ranked counties in the country for internet speeds, according to a new study examining broadband and mobile phone data across the United States.

What we know:

Researchers with AI readiness platform Faro analyzed mobile phone and broadband data from more than 3,000 counties nationwide.

The study ranked Rabun County No. 2,517. Researchers also found that nearly all of the counties in the bottom 25 are in rural areas, highlighting the challenges some communities continue to face in accessing reliable, high-speed internet.

Rabun County is in northeast Georgia along the North Carolina and South Carolina state lines.

Rural broadband funding

Dig deeper:

The findings come amid an ongoing national debate over federal funding intended to improve internet access.

The Digital Equity Act was created during the Biden administration to provide federal funding aimed at expanding access to high-speed internet and other digital resources, particularly in underserved communities.

The Trump administration moved last year to end the Digital Equity Act programs. That effort faced a legal challenge, and a federal judge in July struck down the administration's attempt to terminate the programs.

Reliable high-speed internet has become increasingly important for work, education, health care and other everyday services, while many rural communities continue to face gaps in broadband availability and speed.