On 7/27/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Daniel A. Ramaley</b> <<a href="mailto:daniel.ramaley@drake.edu">daniel.ramaley@drake.edu</a>> wrote:<div><span class="gmail_quote"></span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
I thought the reason other countries are pulling ahead of us is the<br>monopoly type market we have here that isn't interested in providing<br>better service. Most of our population lives in cities. Population<br>density of our cities isn't that different from population density of
<br>cities in other countries.</blockquote></div><br>Compared to what? Canada?<br><br>Look at the denser cities here in the US and look at how competitive and varied the broadband options are compared to central Iowa. In the Tampa Bay area you have choice between two cable modem providers (Time warner/comcast), numerous DSL options and CLECs, wireless broadband and FIOS (Fiber Optic). I had a cable modem at it was about $44 after tax and the misc fees w/out cable tv service, compared to $60 here.
<br><br>As population density goes up, the cost of providing broadband and the availability of competition in the market improves.<br><br>That's not monopolistic, that's capitalism at its finest.<br><br>Considering the infrastructure costs and the low population density of Iowa, be thankful that we even have choices. (which, likely, many subscribed to this list don't have much choice)
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Matthew Nuzum<br>newz2000 on freenode