Beginning to peel the onion on...

how do we increase high speed broadband access.

First layer:  Broadband Stimulus Program through the ARRA
The graph below shows the relationship between % of a state's population with DL > 25 mbps and the awards (grants and loans) per capita of the NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) and the Rural Utilities Services's Broadband Initiatives Program funded through the ARRA.

Source: Congressional Research Service and NTIA.  Excludes multi-state awards

The top five award recipients on a per capita basis.

State	Awards per capita	DL > 25 mbps	% urban
Vermont	$        276	20	39
Alaska	$        188	62	66
North Dakota	$        139	86	60
Montana	$        131	13	56
West Virginia	$         99	59	49
Median all states	$         27	84	74

To expand high speed broadband availability into non-urban areas, more government resources ($$ or as providers) are needed as it won't happen from competitive entry into these markets anytime soon.