We didn't have broadband where I live until just a few years ago. I live on the water, sort of out from the mainland, and they took forever to get it to us. The entire county had it, just not our little area.
You would not believe the hell that was raised for many years over the whole deal. We had people threatening to burn our Mayor's house down if he didn't put pressure on the phone and cable company.
My ex-husband has several offices so I went there whenever I had a big download or upload to do.