[quote=spdrun]Yeah, DSL runs over twisted pair (often old, 1940s-era twisted pair). Cable runs over a shielded coaxial cable.[/quote]
So is the type of wire the only difference? If the phone company put in shielded coaxial would they be competitive with cable service? How much wire would need to be replaced? (ie from the telephone poll to house, or from switch box to house, or from central office to switch box to house?)
If shielded coaxial is so much better why hasn’t the phone company switched years ago? Presumably it wouldn’t have taken much insight to see the business opportunities associated with better connections.