Study: Rhode Island, Delaware have fastest internet in country

Rhode Island and Delaware have the fastest internet speeds in the country, according to a new analysis from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

The two states boasted mean internet speeds of 16.9 megabits per second (Mbps) and 16.5 Mbps, respectively. Both are over 2 Mbps over the 2015 national average of 14.6 Mbps, which saw an increase from the 2015 national average of 11.8 Mbps.

At the opposite end, Kentucky and Idaho had the slowest internet speeds at 10.7 Mbps and 10.4 Mbps, respectively.

{mosads}The trade group’s full analysis, dubbed the Innovation Scorecard, includes a comprehensive set of measures to assess how states are progressing with technology and how friendly they are to innovation.

States earning top honors earn the designation of “Innovation Champion.” Washington state, which earned the label for the first time this year, is also home to the two lawmakers who earned CTA’s “Digital Patriot” awards, Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) and Suzan DelBene (D).

According to CTA head Gary Shapiro, the award is given to lawmakers who “personify the spirit of bipartisanship through advocacy of government policies that encourage innovation.”

The analysis stated that while overall job growth is increasing, entrepreneurship is declining.

“While the economy is growing and adding jobs, the decline in entrepreneurship is alarming,” said Shapiro. “Now is the time for states to start modernizing their laws to ensure startups have access to capital, minimal red tape and other low barriers to entry.”

Other key findings the scorecard highlighted include that Iowa, Nevada and Utah are the best in the country attracting diverse employees because of their protections against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination.

The analysis also noted that the most number of tech workers per capita live in Massachusetts, Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Minnesota and Maryland.