US Broadband: Still No ISP Choice For Many, Especially at Higher Speeds (arstechnica.com)

Despite things getting better with adoption -- however slow -- of Google Fiber in several regions of the United States, the broadband market has gotten slightly less competitive since 2013, says a new report from the FCC. The report adds that, as a result, Americans still have little choice of high-speed broadband providers (PDF). From an ArsTechnica report: At the FCC's 25Mbps download/3Mbps upload broadband standard, there are no ISPs at all in 30 percent of developed census blocks and only one offering service that fast in 48 percent of the blocks. About 55 percent of census blocks have no 100Mbps/10Mbps providers, and only about 10 percent have multiple options at that speed. At the 10Mbps/1Mbps threshold -- which captures slower DSL technology in addition to cable and fiber -- about 90 percent of census blocks have at least two providers. These numbers exclude satellite, which is available nearly everywhere but has high latency and often low data caps. Even these numbers overstate the amount of competition, because an ISP might offer service to only part of a census block. The percentage of households with choice is thus even lower.

Comments

Re:And why, from their perspective

[Sir_Eptishous]

From their perspective they should not. Which is exactly why, from a consumer perspective, the FCC needs to regulate ISP's to ensure that a reasonable level of competition exists in the market.

Yes, but regulating ISPs and/or giving internet access a "common carrier" status means that you will:
1. Become a vegan
2. Howl at the moon on high tides
3. Binge on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
4. Get another tattoo
5. Put a basket on your bicycle
6. Write in Bernie Sanders for president
7. Roll up a bi-sexual Female Elf Druid for your 5th edition D&D game
8. Move to Brooklyn, but still keep your place in Portland for Airbnb
9. Consciously avoid using micro aggressions while waiting in line at Whole Foods
10. Open an artisinal grape vine weaving boutique