Editing Internet service provider (section)

=== ISPs in rural regions ===
It is hypothesized that the vast divide between broadband connection in rural and urban areas is partially caused by a lack of competition between [[Rural internet|ISPs in rural areas]], where there exists a market typically controlled by just one provider.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Snapshot Of Internet Service Provider Competition in the U.S.|url=https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/internet-ISP-competition-across-America|access-date=2021-11-14|website=BroadbandSearch.net|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114183621/https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/internet-ISP-competition-across-America|url-status=live}}</ref> A lack of competition problematically causes subscription rates to rise disproportionately with the quality of service in rural areas, causing broadband connection to be unaffordable for some, even when the infrastructure supports service in a given area.

In contrast, consumers in urban areas typically benefit from lower rates and higher quality of broadband services, not only due to more advanced infrastructure but also the healthy economic competition caused by having several ISPs in a given area.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sallet|first=Jonathan|date=2017-03-15|title=Better together: Broadband deployment and broadband competition|url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2017/03/15/better-together-broadband-deployment-and-broadband-competition/|access-date=2021-11-14|website=Brookings|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114183619/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2017/03/15/better-together-broadband-deployment-and-broadband-competition/|url-status=live}}</ref> How the difference in competition levels has potentially negatively affected the innovation and development of infrastructure in specific rural areas remains a question. The exploration and answers developed to the question could provide guidance for possible interventions and solutions meant to remedy the digital divide between rural and urban connectivity.