Despite the more than $1.6 trillion private Internet service providers (ISPs) have invested in broadband infrastructure since 1996, the Internet landscape in the U.S. faces significant challenges. Over 30 percent of American households do not have broadband at home, while as many as 42 million do not have the option to purchase it in the first place, especially in rural areas. Millions more are unsatisfied with the Internet they do have. Moreover, large ISPs face little or no competition in most U.S. markets, resulting in Internet service that is comparatively more expensive than most peer nations while also not being relatively fast. As private ISPs have struggled to tackle these issues, two related models have emerged as creative alternatives: municipal broadband and cooperatives.
https://www.governing.com/now/should-states-fund-municipal-broadband-and-cooperatives
