An interesting article was featured in CNET titled "AT&T's U-verse gets 24Mbps downloads" which outlined broadband internet packages based on speed and cost.
AT&T made it's fastest broadband product available throughout its U-verse territory. This product's maximum speed is 24 megabits per second with 3Mbps upload and costs $65 a month as part of a service bundle. Originally this product was offered only in Austin, San Antonio, and St. Louis but it has now been expanded to 22 States across the US. AT&T's slower speeds can be attributed to "last mile" problems within it's infrastructure. AT&T chose to upgrade it's U-verse network by laying new fiber to the network node or neighborhood, whereas Verizon Communications in contrast installs fiber all the way to customers' homes.
Although AT&T has strengthened it's network by introducing faster speeds up to 24Mbps in 22 States, many of AT&T's competitors have chosen more expensive network upgrades and can offer 50Mbps and even 100Mbps downloads (Optimum Online).
Source:
CNET.com