Most People Probably Pay Less for Home Broadband Than We Think

It always is difficult to ascertain what “most” consumers actually are paying for home broadband service, partly because people choose a range of plans (faster speeds cost more); partly because many buy service only in a bundle, so there is not actual discrete and identifiable cost. 

In the U.S.  market that is a pronounced issue, as an estimated 70 percent of home broadband services are purchased as part of a bundle. So most of the market arguably buys home broadband in a way that obscures the actual cost. Only about 30 percent of buyers choose a service with a clear recurring price. 

Platform	Typical Speeds	Data Allowance	Monthly Price Range	Common Characteristics
Satellite	~25–30 Mbps download ~3–5 Mbps upload	10–20 GB/month (with some unlimited options at higher prices)	~$75–$85	Mainly chosen in rural or remote areas; higher latency and data caps are common; plans often come with extra fees for overage.
Cable TV	~100 Mbps (often scalable to 200+ Mbps in some markets)	Unlimited data (with occasional fair-use policies)	~$55–$65	The most popular option in urban/suburban areas; offers a good balance of speed and cost; bundle options with TV/phone are common.
Telco (Fiber/DSL)	~100–200 Mbps (fiber often delivers symmetrical speeds)	Typically unlimited or very high data limits	~$60–$70	Fiber plans (e.g., Verizon Fios, AT&T Fiber) are prized for reliability and speed; DSL remains common where fiber isn’t available.
Independent ISP	~50–150 Mbps	Varies, but often unlimited or high caps	~$50–$60	Smaller regional providers often offer competitive pricing and personalized service; plan details can be more tailored.
Fixed Wireless	~25–50 Mbps	Often moderate data caps (e.g., 250 GB/month) or unlimited with speed throttling	~$50–$60	Frequently used in rural or underserved areas; installation can be simpler and faster; speeds may vary with weather and line-of-sight conditions.
Mobile Broadband	Varies (commonly 10–30 Mbps when used as a home hotspot)	Often included as part of an unlimited smartphone plan or separate data allotment	~$55–$65	Purchased as a hotspot or integrated into a mobile plan; flexibility for on-the-go usage, but performance depends on network congestion and coverage.

And estimates vary dramatically when bundled service costs are considered. Where the estimated cost of a cable TV stand-alone service might be between $55 and $65 a month for 100 Mbps service, that same service might “cost” only about $30 to $40 a month when purchased as part of a bundle. 

Platform	Estimated Broadband Cost Portion	Notes
Cable TV	~$30–$40/month	Cable bundles often offer broadband at a discounted rate compared to standalone options, as the service is cross-subsidized by TV/phone components.
Telco (Fiber/DSL)	~$35–$45/month	Fiber bundles tend to emphasize higher speeds and reliability; the broadband portion may carry a slight premium compared to cable but still remains competitively priced in a bundle.
Fixed Wireless	~$30–$40/month	Often offered in rural or underserved regions, these bundles provide broadband at rates similar to cable bundles, though speed and data policies can vary.
Mobile Broadband	~$30–$40/month	When integrated into smartphone or home hotspot bundles, the effective broadband cost is often reduced as part of multi-line or data-centric deals.

Fast Food Restaurants Might be Among the Few Firms Able to Measure AI Revenue Upside

Move over, “digital transformation.” Now we have "AI transformation," which  refers to the integration of artificial intelligence into business processes to improve efficiency, decision-making, and innovation.

As a practical matter, AI transformation is likely to be hard to measure and might not happen “rapidly,” as whole business processes might have to be redesigned. On the other hand, it might be easier to illustrate how “AI transformation” can affect some processes in a measurable way. 

McDonald's wanted to improve its drive-thru experience, boost sales through personalized recommendations, and optimize restaurant operations.

Company	AI Implementation	Results/Impact	Year
McDonald's	Dynamic Yield acquisition	1-2% increase in average check size in test locations	2019-2020
Starbucks	Deep Brew	3% increase in same-store sales	2020-2021
KFC	Face-scanning kiosks (China) recognize cusotmers, suggest orders	Up to 27% increased average transaction average transaction size for repeat customers	2019
Domino's	DOM AI ordering assistant	20% higher conversion rates with personalization	2021
Chipotle	Chippy AI system	15% increase in add-on items	2022
Sonic Drive-In	AI-powered digital menu	5.9% increase in promoted-item sales	2021
Wendy's	AI-powered drive through	6% increase in average check size	2022-2023
Burger King	Guest Track AI	1.5-3% increase in average check size	2021
Taco Bell	Digital kiosks with AI	20% higher average order value	2022
Dunkin' Mobile app	uses AI	7.4% increase in app order value	2022-2023
Pizza Hut	Hot Spots	3.5% increase in add-on items	2021
Panera Bread	AI-powered loyalty program	8% increase in frequency	2022
Wingstop	Digital platform with AI	13.5% higher average transaction	2023
Shake Shack	AI-powered kiosks	18% higher average check	2022

McDonald's in 2019 began using Dynamic Yield, an AI-powered personalization platform owned by Mastercard. McDonalds then used it to change digital drive-through menus based on weather, time of day, popular items, and current restaurant traffic.

On a hot day, the menu might prioritize cold drinks; during the morning rush, breakfast combos might be featured. 

In the kitchen, McDonald’s added AI models and sensors (to monitor equipment health)  predict demand for food items, optimize kitchen prep times, reduce waste and limit equipment downtime . 

The firm also adopted AI-driven forecasting, to  help improve inventory management, reduce food shortages and overstocking.

Other fast food restaurants are doing likewise. Still, “transformation” is more a goal and a process, rather than an easily-quantifiable outcome. 

Embodied AI (Robots) Likely Key to Some Onshoring of U.S. Manufacturing

It is hard to avoid the conclusion that artificial intelligence, in the the form of embodied robots, will be an important part of the business case if manufacturing facilities return to the United States as part of restoring policies and firm responses, jobs will indeed be created, but not at the scale of the pre-offshoring era, it is reasonable to predict. 

Automation, particularly robots using artificial intelligence, likely will handle much of the repetitive, labor-intensive work. 

Study/Source	Estimated Job Creation	Role of Automation	Key Insights
Forbes (2025)	Hyundai's $20 billion investment expected to create 1,500 jobs in Louisiana	Automation is a major factor in reducing traditional manufacturing jobs.	Manufacturing production is high, but job creation is modest due to automation replacing manual labor.
Davron (2024)	Reshoring creates advanced manufacturing jobs requiring higher skills and wages	Advanced manufacturing relies heavily on technology, reducing reliance on manual labor.	Reshoring fosters innovation but requires a skilled workforce trained for automated processes.
Business Insider (2024)	Reshoring could add $10 trillion to the economy over the next decade	High-tech sectors benefit most, integrating automation for efficiency.	Automation is central to reshoring efforts, enhancing productivity but limiting traditional job growth.
Christian Science Monitor (2025)	AI-driven factories may add slightly more jobs than they destroy	Factories integrate AI and robotics to increase efficiency and resilience.	Human roles shift toward managing robots and AI rather than performing manual tasks.
Shoplogix (2023)	Robotics create new roles like technicians and engineers but displace manual labor jobs	Robots perform repetitive tasks faster and more accurately than humans.	Upskilling is essential as traditional roles are replaced by tech-focused positions.
LinkedIn (2025)	Manufacturing output increased 15% since 2020, employment rose only 3%	Automation reduces factory jobs while creating opportunities in high-tech roles.	Reshoring with automation boosts productivity but limits job creation in traditional sectors.

Where an existing garment factory presently operating in Southeast Asia employs X workers, a repatriated operation in the United States might require perhaps 10 percent to 20 percent of those workers. Recall that the reason such facilities moved from U.S. domestic locations to off shore is precisely lower labor rates. 

Assuming higher U.S. wage rates, the only way the economics would work is if far fewer workers were required. 

Study/Analysis	Source	Key Findings on Job Increases	Automation Consideration	Date
Reshoring Initiative Report	Reshoring Initiative	Estimated 1.6 million jobs reshored from 2010-2022, with potential for more if trends continue.	Notes automation reduces job counts; 2022 data shows 364,000 jobs added, but robotics limits scale vs. past.	2022
Oxford Economics:  How Robots Change the World	Oxford Economics	Robots could displace 20 million global manufacturing jobs by 2030, but reshoring may add some back.	Predicts automation will cap U.S. job gains; historical 1.6 jobs lost per robot suggests fewer net gains.	2019
MIT: Robots and Jobs	Acemoglu and Restrepo (NBER)	Between 1990-2007, 1 robot per 1,000 workers reduced employment by 6 workers locally.	Automation in reshored facilities could mean 50-70% fewer jobs than offshored totals due to robot density.	2017
Ball State University:  Manufacturing Study	Center for Business and Economic Research	U.S. lost 5.8 million manufacturing jobs (1980-2016), mostly to productivity automation, not trade.	Suggests reshoring creates high-skill jobs (e.g., technicians), but far fewer than original low-skill positions.	2017
McKinsey Global Institute: Future of Work	McKinsey	Automation could displace 16-20 million U.S. jobs by 2030, but reshoring may offset some losses.	Highlights that returning facilities will lean on robots/AI, creating 10-20% of original job numbers.	2017
ITIF: Robotics and Production	Information Technology and Innovation Foundation	Robotics boosts productivity, potentially adding manufacturing jobs in developed nations.	Job growth tied to engineers/tech roles; traditional labor replaced by robots, reducing total job count.	2019
Brookings: Automation and Jobs	Brookings Institution	Automation offsets job losses from trade, but reshoring impact limited by tech adoption.	Estimates 100-150 jobs per large reshored factory, vs. 500-1,000 historically, due to automated processes.	2015, 2022