I think I remember my first internet speed after using a telephone modem was around 200kbs. Enough for 192 uncompressed, not even flac'd, if they had had it.
People probably usually have around 100Mbs now, your higher res audio is a tiny trickle that must cost nothing, since games companies will let you download constantly at full speed, even though there's no reason to. If there were, I'm sure it would eventually change.