Probably competition. In most places in the US there is effectively no competition. This does two things keeps prices high and keeps companies from upgrading capabilities. I pay for 6mb dsl. That is the highest speed I can get and I only really have on choice, Centurylink. They suck. My only other choice is satellite which is no faster and prohibitively expensive. I live 12 miles outside of Superior, WI so I am not in the deep dark woods. There is an actual fiber optic line 1/2 mile from my house.
20 miles father out in the country, in Maple, WI every home has fiber optic to their house. The local phone company got a grant and took it upon themselves to go to fiber.
This is an example of how our capitalist system fails society. We as a nation .are the laughingstock of the world for our pitiful internet and cell service.
Landline phones do not work the same way. There is a flat fee now for most phone service. I get local and long distance and no matter how many calls I make it is the same. International calls would be an additional cost.
The ISP's and the big players are not suffering financially. They want to be able to provide mediocre service and find another way to generate additional revenue. Why is no other country experiencing these issues? The issues is the big players do not want to spend more money in improving service but want to find new ways to charge fees.
Read up on the economics of the internet and cell service in the USA, compared to the rest of the world. Ever place in the world I have traveled has better service and lower prices.
Why do you think the big telecoms wanted to make municipal internet systems illegal? They do not want competition.
Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts
"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.