Who said we were talking about the middle of nowhere? There are plenty of urban and suburban areas where there are only one or two choices (typically the one cable company and DSL).
https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/#/location-summary?version=jun2...
I can tell you that there are plenty of places in which the only option is a false option between the large carriers. In Houston, for example, my choices are: get fucked by AT&T, get ripped a new one by Comcast, or get laughed at by Windstream.
All of this from companies that have taken tax money and actively fight against community-operated broadband services.
So, maybe it's a duopoly, but the privacy stuff breaks it for me. Though I'm sure someone's going to point out that Comcast likely isn't any better…
So, I'm highlighted at "3" but really the answer is charitably 2, maybe 1.
Also, you've linked to the map highlighted at 10/1; but my understanding is that the FTC definition of broadband is presently 25/3.
Google search: comcast http injection.
Results from 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 ... all of them seem "surprised" about Comcast modifying HTTP stream data...
Comcast even published an RFC for it: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6108
Comcast even goes so far as to claim that it's "more" secure: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6108#section-10
That's part of your problem; there is a third competitor and you didn't even try to do business with them, because they weren't one of the famously screwy companies you've heard of.
I don't envy your big two choices there, but I guarantee it'd be worse with just Comcast or (shudders) just AT&T.
A family member has a small cottage where just under half of the building is on the other side of the county line. We can only get one fixed provider there, and it's satellite, but over the county line they have Comcast and a couple other terrestrial ISPs. the situation is hilarious.
> Also, you've linked to the map highlighted at 10/1; but my understanding is that the FTC definition of broadband is presently 25/3.
Sorry! I pulled up that search from a bookmark (10/1, excluding satellite), and didn't switch the bandwidth setting back to the default.
Residential options:
Comcast, at up to 400mbps.
CenturyLink, at up to 3mbps, and "for most homes, 1.5mbps".
In my area, it says I have 6 different options. In reality, I have one.
Internet options:
Comcast, cable. 2gbit down, 25mbit up.
Centurylink, adsl, 40mbit down, 0.7mbit up.
....
profit!