No, we haven't. That's because many are unwilling to turn Internet access into a government controlled and funded (i.e. publicly funded) piece of infrastructure like water and roads. (Same way we haven't for running municipal water systems everywhere or putting in natural gas piping all over.) It's an economic thing. Deploying the infrastructure to give solid Internet access to 'all homes' is expensive. Right now it is more expensive to install than the return the providers would have on the services they would be able to sell from it. If it costs 10 million dollars to lay copper or fiber to 5 square miles of rural areas and they only get a dozen subscribers you can see that it is a losing proposition. That's why private interests haven't built it out. They function on a for-profit basis and burning money in the name of being nice to people isn't a viable business model. "Coming to view broadband speeds as a national interest" would entail having everyone in society foot the bill for those rural folks' access via taxes. That's simply not what government is for.
I say this as someone who lives in rural America and faces major challenges getting good Internet service, as well as being a tech-forward consumer with HIGH Internet needs. Both my wife and I work from home using Internet to connect to our companies and do our jobs. Nobody wants and needs good, fast, cheap Internet more than I do. But I'm still unwilling to say "society, please foot the bill for me to have great Internet". Not my philosophy. I chose where I live and I'll suck it up and take the Internet hardships that come from it. Right now I'm living the dream because I have this Mobley and cheap, unlimited access so things are going great. I know it won't last (either the cost will skyrocket, the unlimited will go away, or both) but while it happens I'm taking it. And when my Internet access gets less capable or more expensive I'll still be living the dream but just not quite so comfortably.
Rob
