Well it was also possible as most European companies had state-run telephone monopolies into the 1980s. And when they were privatised the government's were in

Well it was also possible as most European companies had state-run telephone monopolies into the 1980s. And when they were privatised the government's were in a position to impose rules on the newly created private companies - namely that they had to sell local access to competitors. As the US govt. didn't own AT&T, not the Baby Bells, nor today's Verizon & AT&T, the situation is a bit different. The irony that the US has a much worse situation because there is so much less competition (despite it being the home of capatalism). In terms of speed I know Ireland (where I am,) and the UK can both get you VDSL2+ service (so like up to 80Mb) on copper pair from numerous suppliers. One service slow access to netflix? Go to another.