Most of the internet infrastructure is owned by major companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. Known as Tier 1 internet providers, they lease the use of their internet pipelines to Tier 2 providers (like Comcast and Cox) that bring internet from the major pipelines into smaller metro and regional areas. In many cases, it isn’t cost-effective for a single provider to lease large areas of the internet pipeline and their service areas are limited.