The bandwidth REALLY costs money. It's more expansive than the hardware needed, actually. Let's take an example:
Most high speed internet providers give 1 to 2mbps links (cable or dsl, doesn't matter). That's a full T1 link. Now, a dedicated T1 costs several thousand dollars every month in bandwidth, plus a few hundreds for the t1 loop (the physical pipe between the isp and it's provider).
How could ISPs possibly give away T1's to their customers for 30-50$?
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The bandwidth REALLY costs money. It's more expansive than the hardware needed, actually. Let's take an example: Most high speed internet providers give 1 to 2mbps links (cable or dsl, doesn't matter). That's a full T1 link. Now, a dedicated T1 costs several thousand dollars every month in bandwidth, plus a few hundreds for the t1 loop (the physical pipe between the isp and it's provider). How could ISPs possibly give away T1's to their customers for 30-50$?