Speedy gigabit Internet may arrive in LA, but don't hold your breath

Seeing little competition and questionable demand, Internet service providers have shrugged at spending the billions of dollars needed to boost US Internet speeds to match other parts of the world. But efforts by Googleand a few cities including Los Angeles are provoking an about-face.

Time Warner Cable and AT&T have eagerly responded that they too are capable of delivering lightning-fast speeds in Los Angeles and other big, lucrative markets. Though analysts see more posturing than certainty in the announcements, it's clear that online video watchers, technology start-ups and financial companies might see a dramatic upgrade in Internet speeds by the end of the decade.