Article: Municipal Broadband Networks Risky for Taxpayers, No Boon to Economic Development.

CHICAGO, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Widespread availability of broadband technology, cutting-edge innovation in the industry, stiff competition among providers, and falling prices all mean the case for municipal ownership of broadband networks is weak and growing weaker, according to a report from The Heartland Institute.

"Threatening to build a municipal broadband network may have been a good strategy two years ago, to prompt incumbent cable and telephone companies to make good on past promises," writes Joseph L. Bast, president of The Heartland Institute and the study's author. "Following through with municipalization, however, is not a good idea."

The ...

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