Actually, California & New York have 2.2 times the population[0] while having 2.1 times the GDP[1], so I really don't see how that's all that relevant.

Or how about we look at their relative land areas[2] (not counting Greenland) - California & New York only have 41% as much area as the Nordic Countries.

0: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=((california+population...

1: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(california+%2B+new+yor...

2: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=((california+state+area...)

Exactly. It should be easier AND cheaper to roll out the better wireless where there are more, wealthier people and where there is greater density.

The fact that wireless sucks in the big cities of the US is indicative of crappy service, not technical challenges.