There is little incentive for additional companies to invest in infrastructure in low population (low profit) areas, the result being a monopoly. My choice of providers and speed is also limited but no where near as bad as your situation. We dont have the same scale of physical network distances to deal with. Its fucking awful that you have no choice, you either pay up and fund the cable bosses private jet/ponies/silk pajamas, or you have no internet. That shit needs to be fixed. Edit; Read this a few days ago on why US internet is expensive http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24528383