Hate your internet provider? Here’s why you might be stuck with them – Rural America is laughably screwed.

• “At least” 49.7 million Americans have only one choice of broadband internet service. Yep, one choice isn’t a “choice” at all.
• Charter and Comcast have an “absolute monopoly” over at least 47 million Americans.
  An additional 33 million Americans only have the choice of “less reliable DSL” as an alternative to the two big guns.
• Rural America is laughably screwed. The big ISPs have bailed on rural Americans. Rural DSL speeds frequently don’t come close to broadband speeds.
• Rural Americans are in for more pain this year. That’s because the Connect America Fund, which supplies federal subsidies for broadband infrastructure in rural areas, comes to an end this year. The fund has given billions to ISPs “without requiring significant new investment.”

By Michael Grothaus