The $53,000 Connection: The High Cost of High-Speed Internet for Everyone::Officials doling out billions of dollars for broadband in rural America are struggling to decide when a new hookup costs too much
Even if that is an accurate number, there are only ~56 million Americans living in census defined rural areas. With some actual planning we should be able to get missing backbones from our urban areas (which should be getting far more funding). Wireless is also a gamechanger, with microwave, 5g (and nextgen 6g), and Starlink, and that can really reduce this cost since not everyone needs fiber. If we can incorporate requirements for new backbone lines with any greenfield rail or highway projects we can get wireless coverage out faster and cheaper.
https://archive.ph/J8xh6 No paywall
