said by openbox9 :

Do you have any idea how much it costs, and how much time is required, to design, engineer, manufacture, test, tweak design, re-manufacture, retest, build multiple systems, launch, and manage a satellite? Then throw in multiple ground-stations and O&M for future years.

said by openbox9 :

I know your post was more directed at slamming the US because you feel that we are so bad off, so I guess this was more of a rhetorical question. Anyway, if you think that our "first world country" has such "third world broadband choices", then I invite you to look around at other countries, weigh your benefits and costs of living, and then let us know which country is so much better. Serious question as I've been a lot of places and I'd like to read your frame of reference.

said by SilverSurfer :

Isn't that exactly what we pay for in the form of taxes on broadband? So that folks in rural areas can have access? What is happening with the monies providers are collecting at the behest of the feds to subsidize rural areas with broadband?

said by SilverSurfer :

I have "looked around" and weighed options accordingly and I stand by my original statement. The U.S. is a first world country with 3rd world broadband choices. We pay the highest prices in the world for the lowest k/bps. Where I choose to live vs not is not germane to this discussion.