> go 5 mins outside a densely populated area and your internet/cable options drop below third world standards.
You mention Western states - which ones are you familiar with? In NW Washington, there are counties with functioning fiber co-ops. It's very possible to get fiber to your property in some areas, economically, with functioning latecomers agreements.
I can't say how common it is elsewhere, but you're painting with a VERY broad brush in describing the rural US internet experience.
>It's very possible to get fiber to your property in some areas, economically, with functioning latecomers agreements.
You can't even get fiber in MOST of Indianapolis proper and there are still many, many, many addresses in Indianapolis on wells/septic, with 2000-era DSL speeds.
I meant to say 15 minutes (or miles). But what you're describing is the exception, not the rule. The western states I was looking at recently were CA, OR, NV, WY. But I also am familiar with WA and know that if you live outside King County your internet/cable options are sparse in most areas. Check out Broadband Now [0] for examples. Although I find their reported coverage for ISPs to not reflect reality on the ground in many cases.
You mention Western states - which ones are you familiar with? In NW Washington, there are counties with functioning fiber co-ops. It's very possible to get fiber to your property in some areas, economically, with functioning latecomers agreements.
I can't say how common it is elsewhere, but you're painting with a VERY broad brush in describing the rural US internet experience.