The difference between phones and FTTH is that I don't think we have enough spectrum to assign a little share to everyone, whereas we do have space to route fib

The difference between phones and FTTH is that I don't think we have enough spectrum to assign a little share to everyone, whereas we do have space to route fibers to everyone. The question then is how to best regulate the allocation of spectrum. Because cell networks are relatively easy to deploy (on top of an existing fiber network, and relative to the work of the fiber buildout), it seems to make more sense to break regions (city or county) up in to 10 or so spectrum slices, and lease them out to carriers. Regions are free to choose to have some or all of that operate as a utility, I suppose, but I think a regular co-op or corporation likely performs as well, as long as you require that fundamental carrier diversity. Then just a bit of regulation about unlocked phones (when you pay in full!).