Originally Posted by
gfunkdave
Postwar rebuilding? ISPs didn't exist until the 1990s.
Many parts of the US can get 100+ Mbps download as a non-expensive option, especially in Comcast areas and Time Warner areas where they have already built out Maxx. DOCSIS 3.1 should be generally rolled out by next year some time, which will allow for 1 Gbps.
While historically it may be true that the US has lagged, it doesn't necessarily follow that that's the case in perpetuity.
It might not be expensive for the US but it's still very expensive relative to other countries. And I don't see that changing any time soon, either, as it's nearly impossible to compete in that space. (
Just ask Google how that's going.)
One possibility in the medium to longer term is LTE and 5G becoming dense enough to be a viable option vs. wired internet. Some wireless carrier in Australia recently tested gigabit LTE, for instance.