| Arkansas I am one of those Arkansans fortunate enough to have a WISP, a cable company, DSL and at least 3 forms of 3G cellular data available at my residence. While most in my subdivision opt for AT&T's slow speeds of 3/1.5 mbps (12 if you are among the lucky few who can get Uverse) I am willing to pay far more ($57/mo) to get 25/3 cable Internet.
Since the 1950s, Arkansas' population has been shifting from rural areas to urban and suburban population centers. It has also shifted in pure geography; the entire population is moving west and north (towards Little Rock and Fayetteville). The result is a much less rural population than years past--and indeed, a more competitive broadband market as a result.
I would also add one other thing: though the authors of this report have taken a fair amount of criticism regarding their methodology, they also have not tried to hide a darn thing. There may also be some validity to their methods. People can (and do!) make a decision on where to live based on a variety of factors, broadband access included. As consumers become more educated, the ability to attain faster speeds at lower prices may sway people from living in one town or suburb over another. This may seem far-fetched, but I can honestly say that I use that as a metric when looking at homes and property. I know others here who do the same. Not all are incredibly tech-savvy, either. Therefore, when two towns right next to one another have a combined four broadband providers, some minimal competition is provided inherently based on residents' ability to choose one town or subdivision over another.
Personally, I would like to see broadband providers listed in RLS searches.  That is a pipe dream, I know. |
