[xiaq]

I guess you are from the US?

Local loop unbundling [1] is a regulatory method to "utility-ize" ISPs by forcing the infrastructure owner (usually big telco companies) to allow competitors to use the infrastructure.

Here in UK LLU seems to be working reasonably well, as least in terms of value for money. My Internet bill is 25 pounds (~35 dollars) per month and from chatting with my colleagues in the US, I'm under the impression that this is quite cheap by US standards. It happens to be the same as my limitless 4G data subscription. You can get cheaper rates if you have a long-term subscription; I used to pay 15 pounds per month but now pay more after switching to a monthly subscription.

In the US LLU regulations also exist but according to some discussions I found [2] its implementation was sabotaged by the big carriers and the FCC did not manage to enforce it and gave up.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local-loop_unbundling

[2] https://www.quora.com/Why-is-there-no-Local-loop-unbundling-...

[r00fus]

That was the reality of the situation in the US in the year 2000, then the ISP lobby and the new incoming GOP administration for George W Bush removed that rule and kicked the customers to the curb again.

[bhelkey]

> My Internet bill is 25 pounds (~35 dollars) per month and from chatting with my colleagues in the US, I'm under the impression that this is quite cheap by US standards.

It's basically impossible to compare that plan with a US plan without saying what you get for that price.

I just checked. In my area (inside California), pure internet plans range from $20/month for 50Mbps to $85/month for 1200Mbps.

That being said, it is popular to bundle with cable/voice along with internet.

[amyjess]

The only services I've seen competitors provide via LLU are ADSL, back when ADSL was still a viable competitor to cable.

But I've never seen any competitors offer service over a cable, VDSL, or other fiber network, and those are the only kinds of wired Internet service that are really viable anymore.

[xiaq]

IIUC, cables are not subject to LLU in the UK (Virgin Media being the only cable ISP) but fibres are. Competition from fibre probably keeps cable Internet price reasonable enough.

[thayne]

In the US, fiber, at least last mile fiber is pretty rare. It is limited to a few small pockets in primarily large urban areas.