Broadband you say?

I have been working in Seattle for the past few months but have been having to live without water. OK - an exageration, but after being so used to a 12M broadband connection in Tokyo - I might as well be living without water. What they refer to 'broadband' in the US are average speeds of a piffling 1.5M costing $50 a month! I was shocked and dismayed to learn that the center of the internet universe existed on these 'always connected, fast' connections.
The UK is even worst - 'broadband' connections are advertised everywhere but they dont mention the speed - hmmmmm. Further investigation reveals top speeds of 2M - the average being 512K.
I am thirsty for a real broadband connection and when I get back to JP I will upgrade my previous connection to a FTTH 100M connection for a measly $70 a month- check these prices at kakaku.com for the rates for 100M. But if I am unlucky, I will probably have to settle for a 50M connection - sigh.