I can definitely see both sides of the coin, but there isn't a neat or clean answer. The old telcos like Verizon, AT&T, etc see bandwidth as a limited resource

I can definitely see both sides of the coin, but there isn't a neat or clean answer. The old telcos like Verizon, AT&T, etc see bandwidth as a limited resource that needs to be rationed. Companies like Google in Kansas City sees bandwidth as being like a parking lot for a big box store, or a subway stop for a big-city department store -- a funnel to bring in customers. I think the compromise lies in the middle -- you need a physical regulatory environment like Germany, where the actual conduits for public utilities are owned by the public. Then you have the companies compete on the value they bring to the table -- customer service, a better global network, price.