http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20010823.html
I saw this link at slahsdot, it's about how to set up your own DSL service.
I read through it, and technically speaking, it's absurdly simple. There are a few snags, like getting a connection to the internet backbone. But purely from a technical standpoint it is simple. Why do broadband companies make this so hard?