We would be better off with tighter (federal) laws on ISPs than by trying to "compete" city by city against them. They can throw a fit, but if we have tight enough laws, they won't have much say (and they're not going to want to just STOP making money, so they're not going to stop providing service and expanding).

This doesent solve the problem of the natural monopoly not in the slightest. Though I agree tighter regulations could work there would still be no conceivable way for others to enter the fray. Other than a public grid or Scrooge McDuck money Americans will be stuck with two options three if Google comes to town.

Once you put something on the tax books, though, there's almost no getting rid of it. It will be an expense and burden on tax payers forever.

ISPs will never be able to create an environment that will make populists give up a "free" government benefit. Democrats* will roll out the poor family (most likely a minority for the white guilt) and start airing a bunch of sob story commercials about how getting to the local library is too hard (in a city densely populated enough to even think about public internet...right) and how dare a politician try to take away their "right" to free internet.

*And before you call me a republican for calling out democrats, I'm not. I'm not strictly left or right in my politics. Most people on the internet don't seem to get that you can criticize one party at a time without being one or the other, so I'm just saying in case. I am advocating more regulation laws in my second comment and mocking populist democrats guilt and defense of any government provided item in this one, so I mean, that doesn't exactly sound like some person that's lockstep liberal/conservative, right? lol

If we're talking about optional government plans, THAT might work. So long as it actually MADE money and wasn't heavily subsidized.

But "free" internet isn't going to "compete" with internet companies, it will nearly run them out of town and turn a nonessential to daily life thing (not for everyone) into a tax burden.

Instead of socializing things every time corporations do something naughty, why don't we change the laws so that they CAN'T do said things?

Silent the problem is the government has stated for years that broadband is a necessity. It becomes more so every day. For education and work. As technology moves forward people will need better broadband. We know the current providers aren't willing to keep up. Plus they are on the verge of becoming strictly ISPs anyway. That will mean more gouging and less providing.

We've had years of their regional monopolies and look at what it has given us. It's shameful. As networks go to streaming services ISPs will start to charge more. If local governments are willing to foot the bill for the fiber and then sell it at cost to small regional ISPs the consumer will pay far less for than they will if the system remains as it is.

Americans pay far more for much less than most of the industrialized world. It's time for the monopolies to die. In DC you can get 150mbs for well under $100 because you have Verizon, Comcast and a local ISP all offering similar service. You get cable, phone and 75/25 internet for $99 for the first two years plus a $400 Visa check card and free HBO. And that is the HD package.