You referred to competition as having done wonders for the phone industry, but I guess you've missed the news reports that Canada in fact pays more than most other countries in the world for its phone service, because we have an oligopoly, where the carriers basically get together and set the price. In addition, we have a cable system in which only the carrier that is licensed to serve you is able to serve you, and no other carrier can supply you a signal on that piece of wire as a result of legislated discrimination.
The competition hasn't really worked in the phone business because we pay more than most.