In the US, there are two forms of hard wired communications. The primary remains the telephone systems. They now have entered into delivery of high speed internet and motion pictures over twisted wire telephone lines.
Cable television is a 40 year old technology that has ballooned in areas where large numbers of homes are built but have no direct line of sight to a television broadcast transmitter. About 12 years ago, they petitioned the government for the right to enter the internet delivery market with the cable service they already used to provide television and premium content.
We also have satellite services for premium TV content as well as limited forms of broadband internet where neither of the above have infrastructure. This would be like Murdock's SkyTV.
In the larger communities in most areas of the US, various groups and companies are using wi-fi hardware to create internet access for the people who live in such towns. There are both public and business solution to this movement, the process is still ongoing...
And cell phone providers are creating broadband level wireless service allowing phones to become internet devices and media players.
It's a very confusing time for the average consumer.