In brief, faster network connections are rolling out slowly because practically everyone that wants to do it faster is prevented from doing so thanks to statutory or logistical roadblocks thrown up by the incumbents, who have zero incentive to do it themselves because they enjoy a territory-designated monopoly.<p>The logical thing for most towns to do is to use their eminent domain powers to force the sale of easements and utility poles/tunnels to the municipality, and charge all utilities a flat rate based on pole capacity used. While two wires on a line of poles doesn't seem all that wasteful, two wires on two parallel lines of poles sounds pretty stupid. Digging up the street with two parallel trenches is even worse. As a consumer, I don't want a service provider in a position where it can keep its competitors from reaching by house via the best route possible. I want that access controlled by the cartel enforcer rather than any of the cartel members.<p>As a bonus, the town could allow residents or HOAs to hire qualified contractors to run and maintain their own cables to anywhere the poles/tunnels go. That way, if an ISP won't come to you, you can go to anything else you can reach.