Those lucky enough to live where Google has laid fiber get Gigabit Ethernet for around $70 per month. In these areas AT&T also offers Gigabit Ethernet for around the same price. In other areas we get 24Mb (the lucky few) or as low as 3Mb for not much less. We all have electricity, however.
Since the Internet can only be as reliable as the power grid why not allow a change nationwide to either allow electricity providers to offer Internet connections or just take away the "last mile" from the Telcos/cable co's and "unbundle" the content and services from the physical media? They're good at keeping the lights on; they can probably keep the data flowing. Content could be purchased as desired from any provider.