Yet while our state and federal governments are moving in the right direction, substantial debate remains about who should actually provide this access. Over many years, private companies have invested billions of dollars to establish an extensive network of telecommunications and cable infrastructure, adapting to and incorporating the massive technological changes that have occurred during that time. As a result, speeds have increased and more people are being connected.

Recently, however, well-paid consultants are touting government-owned broadband utilities as the newest alternative. Using a “build-it-and-they-will-come” sales pitch, local governments and citizens are promised government-owned broadband systems will provide cheaper and faster internet services at no risk to taxpayers, as only those who use it will pay for it.

What the consultants seldom say is a sustainable government-owned broadband system is not guaranteed. The funding sources (i.e. taxpayers and ratepayers) needed to build the system are fraught with significant perils.

Governments are usually least able to keep up with rapid technological advances. Finding competent, highly-skilled technology employees to start and operate a government system in a smaller community can be challenging if not

impossible.

Most importantly, when a government-owned utility struggles financially, and they most certainly do, local officials must significantly raise prices, subsidize the system with taxpayer or ratepayer dollars or sell the system for pennies on the dollar. And what sounded too good to be true in the beginning ends up being exactly that.

History has shown that these types of products and services are best left to the private sector, which is best able to analyze, accept and bear the market risks of providing services over the long term. As is almost always the case, the government should only be the provider of absolute last resort.