Should Local Government Provide Internet Access?

"Local municipalities across the country are looking to community-owned broadband wireless access as a cost-effective way to bring affordable broadband into their areas...This has sparked a battle with cable and telephone providers over how public or private access to the Internet should be.

Advocates of community Internet access say broadband is a critical community service which should be provided by local governments while opponents argue it is unfair to local competitors and will not offer the same low-cost services. "