Originally Posted by
KRSW
...and having spent quite a bit of time in Alaska, physics and logistics are a formidable problem. In an ideal world, we'd all like to pay $20/mo for gigabit fiber with no limits. Even if the telcos weren't squandering and profiteering, this still wouldn't be a reality. Infrastructure isn't sexy. Infrastructure won't win votes. Infrastructure is expensive. In this area there are still a ton of people on wells and septic systems, despite being in the middle of the city, surrounded by retail, restaurants, businesses, etc. One city near here has been forcing people off wells & septic systems and onto city water/sewers, charging them $20k for the "privilege". You can get a fiber strung anywhere in this country...but being able to afford it is a completely different story.
The issue is the agreements that cities have with cable companies to be the exclusive provider. Nobody can afford to become a new competitor because of these agreements and what it would cost to lease space on poles that are in a public right of way. It's a very corrupt system.
A rural electric Co-Op near me has been burying fiber all around the south edges of the OKC metro. They are burying all cable because while expensive to do, it saves them long term from having to lease on poles that they don't own.
If cities would open up to allow anyone to come in, and require pole owners to provide equal access since those poles are on public land, it'd be a very different story.