easy answer...yes, major companies like Verizon and AT&T would rather speed you up gradually and make money along the way...it's much more lucrative to charge incrementally, especially if you charge 40 times bandwidth
In Hong Kong, to use a recent example, the lowest speed one provider offers is 25Mbps, but you might as well get the 100 Mbps for the same price Verizon offers 5 Mbps...or just go all out and get 1 Gbps for $215 per month.
Whoddathunk we'd all be looking to Hong Kong for hope? Who knew such speeds were even currently possible?
Hong Kong's Broadband Is How Fast? | WebProNews
there is no free market in the States anymore, the market is controlled by a few key players who, ironically, use the free market argument to keep the government out of their business. Their business, by the way, is controlling the market and you.
Ah, corporatism, the New American Way...but don't expect to hear much about it on the major networks; they're all owned and carefully directed, and would rather keep you up to date on the latest Lindsay Lohan drama.