I've asked this out in the open before and always got blank stares and crazy looks, but how hard/expensive would it be to start your own neighborhood ISP and peer directly with a backbone? What's the up-front investment required and how many users at what price point would be needed to make it reasonable or profitable?
I guess the main problem is still transport to the premises...
The technical parts are fairly straightforward, what gets hard/expensive is the legal, permiting, construction part.
> What's the up-front investment required and how many users at what price point would be needed to make it reasonable or profitable?
As the old adage goes, if you have to ask then you can't afford it...
> I guess the main problem is still transport to the premises...
Exactly. Rule of thumb is that 90% of network costs are in the last mile and most of those costs are in the last few yards.
Fortunately, I have three providers in my neighborhood. Of course, it will take me an hour on hold to cancel Comcast, but at least I won't have to deal with them any more.