Gave up on my 'no internet' plan

Sometimes plans don't go the way they think we will go. After a couple of disastrous nights with no internet, missing a college online class, almost missing an assignment, I realize how much I rely on having home internet. I called up Comcast right before Hurricane Harvey and signed up for $30 dollar internet with speeds at 55mpbs. For $10 more I could get 100mpbs and I may do that down the line.

Right now I feel good that I can update my devices at home and not be reliant on someone else. I also learned the struggle a lot of people go through.

In today's society how can you apply for a job, update important documents, keep in touch with people without home internet? I went almost a month without it. I can't imagine being a student, or another person without home internet. It has made me more empathetic to their plight. I don't know what the solution is though.

According to https://muninetworks.org/communitymap - "Nineteen states have barriers in place that discourage or prevent local communities from deciding locally if such an investment is a wise decision."

I know that we have public utilities such as water, gas, electric, (am I missing any?) Should the internet be treated as a public utility? What are the pros and cons?

This handy list from debate.org says we might not be better off. I think that regardless more states should let cities decide how they want to run their community. I know states get made when they're forced to do things by the federal government. http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-cities-offer-free-public-wi-fi?nsort=5&ysort=2