The only thing I want to add for the world wide audience is to demand symmetric speed/bandwidth for upload and download. Don't get "bribed" into settling for a fantastic download speed/bandwidth.
The reason is a crippled upload speed allows the media titans (increasingly in bed with ISP's) to essentially control the available content on the internet. Its simply supply and demand. There is of course voracious demand for internet content and supply is currently satisfied, in enormous parts, by "amateur" content.
Content uploaded by non-media titan folks (like our dear Dave) account for hundreds upon hundreds of hours where the media titans are not making money on. By choking off "amateur" content through upload speed/bandwidth, content appetite will have satisfied by that provided by media titans, which you can bet, will not be free.
So the long term strategy for media/ISP titans is clear: have public funds build the network with asymmetric speed/bandwidth to choke off competing "amateur" content through crippled upload speeds but with fantastic download speed/bandwidth to push their content through.
Its genius. But don't fall for it. If public funds are to be used to build out internet networks, the public needs to make sure they get their money's worth with symmetric networks speed/bandwidth.