To me, the ideal setup is a single entity, whether govt, coop, or nonprofit, to run the 'last mile' to the homes as a utility (gpon or something similar). then

To me, the ideal setup is a single entity, whether govt, coop, or nonprofit, to run the 'last mile' to the homes as a utility (gpon or something similar). then let ISP's, telcos, etc run their fiber to the CO, and provide internet, TV, and voice. A bill gets split up, and the utility gets a small percentage for maintenance, repairs, on-site troubleshooting, and upgrades. ISP's no longer need a fleet of techs, and just need to worry about core infrastructure. Competition thrives, as you note just need to connect to a CO to start competing, etc. Actually very similar to how many rural power co-op's with now. Since the utility is small and local, you can actually talk to them about concerns, etc.