Oft-overlooked, but this applies beyond “big tech” too. The US has for decades lagged behind most developed countries on broadband internet speed, largely due to the uncompetitive markets.
Things like Local Loop Unbundling (back when ADSL was a thing) and allowing/encouraging municipalities to run FTTH would improve things a lot, but the incumbents have lobbied hard against such policies that would force more competition.
Sort of, but the problem with ISPs is "who owns the infrastructure?" because it doesn't matter how much you want ISP competition if the actual cables are owned by an ISP rather than an independent infrastructure company that ISPs are only allowed to contract to lay new cable without any say in who gets to use it.
(The US absolutely adores vertical integration. A company can own the land, the infrastructure, the access to that infrastructure, the services that run on that infrastructure AND strip your rights to the court by forcing you into accepting binding arbitration instead, and the US will point and it with starry eyes and proclaim it a shining example of success)
Right, LLU addresses exactly this by requiring network operators to open up their local exchanges to competitors, basically forcing a decoupling of the "last mile delivery" (which is a natural monopoly) from the internet service provision (which is more competitive).
It's quite clearly beneficial to consumers to do this, but companies hate it of course.
Things like Local Loop Unbundling (back when ADSL was a thing) and allowing/encouraging municipalities to run FTTH would improve things a lot, but the incumbents have lobbied hard against such policies that would force more competition.