I pay $72/month for JUST a 12 Mbps connection, the fastest available in my city. In France, for 33$/month one can get a 20 Mbps broadband with HDTV, unlimited long distance and international telephone, and wireless connectivity throughout the country.
Out in my yard is a buried Fiber Optic cable, laid by my city 15 years ago after repeated requests to the cables and telcos to switch from Copper wire to FO fell on deaf ears. Progress was subsequently blocked when cable and telcos bribed Congress with "campaign donations" to get legislation passed outlawing "unfair competition", with the promise to use the $200+ BILLION dollars Congress gave them to lay the FO everywhere. But, the bribes also included an under the table deal NOT to put any teeth into the bill for non-compliance. So, the cable and telcos took their $200+ Billion and pocketed it. Today, the cable and telcos are still sucking income out of Copper wire by "tiering" it into high priced "premium" services and dribble for the rest of us. With the January US Supreme Court's ruling against Citizens United and the FCC, the ISPs can now throttle and filter to their hearts desire, and you should have NO DOUBT that such activity will be in favor of the HIGHEST BIDDERS, the Entertainment industry and the News Media Industry, both trying to sustain their obscene profit margins exploiting the performers and the consumers.
Welcome to the Brave New World, were corporations and government have combined into a Cabal to destroy what remains of the Constitution so that a few politicians and corporate thieves can live like kings, in excellent health, jet setting between several multi-million dollar estates, or taking multiple "fact-finding" junkets to resort spots around the world. Of the common citizens, one third cannot afford health care and the rest barely so.
Lawrence Lessig summed it best in his speech , which you must watch. He also has a solution: FixCongressFirst.org
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