It always goes back to 'hey we are bigger the they are" yet they don't stop and think. Wait why are we the last ones to get great speed at a great rate? simple because they believe that lie about population and distance that telcos keep harping about. Had that mentality been during the transcontinental rail, telephone or highway construction period half of this country would still be using the telegraph and stage coaches because they were good enough and you didn't need more. We need to stop thinking short term and think long term. Specially when it comes to the internet and fiber deployment. Because we can't keep lagging behind while the rest of the world leaves us in the dust.
Apparently the days of American innovation and "Can do" attitude has faded considerably. Now we sit on the sidelines, watching others build out and upgrade, and make excuses, saying it's just to hard to in the USA, it's easier everywhere else.
What mediocrity? I have 50Mb service soon to be upgraded to 150Mb. FiOS users have similar options as do Comcast users. I have trouble saturation a 50Mb connection and 150Mb will be even more overkill.
You act as if this niche service that isn't even seeing widespread deployment is commonplace in Japan. I assure you it isn't.