It should be noted at this point that Salt Mobile is getting to use the country's frequency space for free (it is assigned by the government) where companies like AT&T and Verizon have to BUY them for billions of dollars.

It should also be noted that Switzerland has regulations in place that prevent monopolies, in other words companies are encouraged and allowed to compete with each other, including on wirelines. So, if Salt want to pick a random city and start deploying, besides some local construction permits and such they are free to do so.

One of the big reasons Google Fiber is being slowed down and expansion is being halted..... is primarily because so many states have rules and regulations that prevents competition (or at least makes it very difficult), introduced by politicians who are getting their pockets filled by the likes of AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, etc....

Not completely un-expected, MOST (not all) of the states that have laws either banning or heavily restricting third party competition..... are states ran by Republicans.

What this country needs is a federal law that states that third party competition is allowed everywhere, and should have the same (not different) local permitting laws as current cable and telco providers as well as utility providers. In other words, they can't make it difficult for a newcomer, but let cable and telco deploy under the same rules as before.

We NEED competition to be allowed unrestricted. And all these Republican law-makers introducing back assward laws to protect their interest with big-telco, need to be kicked out of their positions by the voters. Yeah, I am looking at you, Marsha Blackburn!

Money is what is wrong. Sensible American business practice is another thing that is wrong. Greed along with fools and their money is the root of the problem.

...gas costs $5/gallon there. It’s all relative.

Why is it that the United States has to be so far behind? The lack of options and the lack of a good company is getting to the point where people will probably even move. Cable is trying to basically make sure customers move to other countries and the fact politicians do not care about the paying customers, makes me frankly sickened.

Wow that's amazing $50 fiber !!

Wish I had that's!!

If only phone companies invested in FTTH everywhere and upgrades all there dsl lines...

Then we would see cable cos loosing subs by the masses not Telco

If the grass is always greener then the Canadian market should be a virtual meadow.

Companies spend millions on lobbying because it works. In America campaign donations are another form of bribe. Honestly the problem is we allow it. People vote strictly on party lines rather than facts. That is the problem. America is actually falling behind, people are great, caring and loving but as soon as you talk politics people are ready to cut each others throats lol.

People are so easily manipulated for votes I shake my head. People call me liberal but I have voted for republicans and democrats and independents. No one buys my vote. Some of my family members call california Liberal hell, lol. Yet they make shit load of money and live a comfortable life just because not enough Americans voted for Trump here. As soon as I get called liberal hell bla bla. I hit my ignore button and move on until they stop talking politics lol.

It's about pure unadulterated GREED.

I pay 43$/mo for only ADSL 768/128k service in the Southeast USA.
We are in a population dense suburban area, with a decent income level.....
yet the copper last mile loop is literally falling apart and unreliable yet we do have some
FTTN in limited areas.

Randall, you cheap bastid.

I'd be super happy for 10 Mbps internet, local phone, and basic 30 channel cable for that crazy low price point. None the less, all of the features that they probably offer with it!

I get it's tough to run fiber where houses are a mile or more apart. So what's the excuse for not having 10 gig 50 dollars a month fiber in say NYC or LA? I heard those areas are pretty densely populated

I chuckle when I read " well x is much smaller or more population density than the US "...

Then tell me.. why isn't there a single state with meaningful fiber deployment. What about a city? Pretty much only where Google fiber is located and a few Muni areas.

No.. none of the above is the cause. The main players so not want to invest. That is why cable cos no longer expand. That's why telcos barely upgrade cos and let dslams and lines rot.

Greed. The big guys could easily explode speeds and coverage if they wanted too but they don't. Then they turn around and sue and or block anyone that wants to try.