> any chances this could get better for you over the next few years
It is telling that I can know more about New York's lame rural-net than my own.
http://stopthecap.com/2014/12/04/cuomo-100-new-york-state-access-100mbps-broadband-2018/
"New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo .... will kick off his latest broadband expansion effort with the launch of his $500 million broadband expansion program, ..., a follow-up to the state’s $70 million public-private effort to expand broadband that began in 2012.
"Despite the money, the 2012 effort did not make a significant dent in the pervasive problem of broadband availability in upstate New York.
"While Gov. Cuomo is committed to a target speed of 100Mbps within the next four years, more than one million New York households still cannot access broadband that achieves the state minimum — 6.5Mbps. That includes 113,000 businesses.
"...a significant part of the next round of funding likely to reach more institutional and public safety networks off-limits to the public, middle mile network expansion that can build state-of-the-art fiber rings that do not connect to end users, and an even bigger amount handed to Time Warner Cable ... and rural phone companies... Much of the money awarded to last mile providers like cable and phone companies will placate those that have stubbornly refused to expand further into rural areas unless taxpayers pick up some of the expense."
In Maine, the (under-paid!!) governor has not put a foot in his mouth about internet. (I suspect he does not use it.)
Several colleges and hospitals, rackets with serious business-case for robust internet, did leverage funding for the "Three Ring Binder", another "middle mile fiber ring that does not connect to end users". It runs from Portland (suburb of Boston) up the coast and inland to Ft Kent (which ought to be Canada but isn't).
Image: http://static.bangordailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/1270687971_3fcf.jpg
If I drive about 20 minutes I can look at the fiber, ponder the many bits moving very fast inside, and wish that I had a tap.
Notable quote:
"...last mile providers ...have stubbornly refused to expand further into rural areas..."
I have Cable only because of the 1980s boom in TV services, and internet because it does not cost $50/mo to add internet to an existing cable. I also have copper voice, and DSL on existing copper is not that costly, but the cable company got in first and the telephone company doesn't want to lift a finger to split a thin customer base. Fiber to my home is utter pie in the sky.
Actually, cell-phone is starting to look competitive. After years of half-bar service, we now have good signal (but only on some phones!). There's $99 home box, often discounted. A data-plan can be had for much less than Time-Warner cable internet. Major question is whether the box and the plan will link through the cell-tower at the graveyard, or try (and fail) to link with the tower up past the Falls.
wifi get's really bad since we are all connected to the same network and it sucks, but as I have a reasonable good phone service I don't use wifi often...
