In the UK (as I don't know about other countries), you need to have an active phone line before you can get broadband. To get an active phone line, you need to contact British Telecom, whom provide phone and internet services too.
You say "Can you activate my phone line? I want to start getting phone calls and broadband service from someone who isn't you."
They say "We can activate it, as long as you take out a 12 month contract with us."

Why the hell is BT not brought up on the same charges Microsoft is? You HAVE to get a BT contract just to have the phone turned on. That's a monopoly situation.

I doubt any of my 14 watchers will provide answers, but I wanted to vent.