Local Internet Is Faster

Comcast and AT&T may be the biggest internet service providers (ISPs), but according to a study from PCMag neither crack the top ten fastest. In fact, private ISPs generally lagged behind their not-for-profit local counterparts. PCmag created a metric using upload and download speeds along with line performance to find the best ISPs and discovered six of the top ten spots on their list went to public local ISPs.

"When all regional ISPs were compared side by side, the fastest ISP in America was independent California ISP, Sonic, with a score of 610.6. Sonic has been working with select California communities to leverage their publicly-owned fiber networks,” Karl Bode writes for Vice.

Though local ISPs may lack the resources that mega-ISPs have, other factors allow them to provide faster internet. "Thanks to both corruption and limited competition, US broadband is routinely sluggish, pricey, with comically bad customer service. Frustrated by years of dysfunction, many towns and cities are either building their own broadband networks, developing local cooperatives, or striking partnerships with third party companies to build better networks than are currently available," Bode argues. In most states large ISPs have had success legislating their competitors out of business by making it difficult for municipalities to create ISPs or outlawing them all together.