The Communication Workers of America's SpeedMatters.org's national survey of internet speeds found that RI's median upload and download speeds were the fastest in the nation, though still behind countries like Japan and Canada.

Speed is considered important for innovation in fields like telemedicine, virtual education, and public safety.

Rhode Island may have ranked so well because it is such a small state, and there are players here dedicated to making sure high-speed Internet is accessible to virtually everyone, said Tim Hebert, CEO of Atrion Networking Corp. in Warwick.

One such group is North Kingstown-based OSHEAN, a nonprofit coalition of universities, hospitals, government agencies and other nonprofit organizations that provides Internet-based technology solutions for its member institutions and the communities they serve.

In addition, the local competition between Cox and Verizon may have been a spur for Cox's Project EON network upgrades as well as Verizon's new fiber optic services, available in only 15 other states.

Leigh Ann Woisard, director of public relations for Cox Communications, didn’t seem surprised at the results for Rhode Island. In 1995, Cox made the decision to invest in a top-of-the-line fiber optic/coaxial network in the state, she noted, and it has invested $530 million in the network. Rhode Island has 5,472 miles of fiber – both aerial and underground.

“We believe that Rhode Island is the most broadband-ready state in the nation,” Woisard said.