The same thing happened here in the province of Ontario. The government handed out roughly $2.5 billion in subsidies through a reverse auction, but not a singl

The same thing happened here in the province of Ontario. The government handed out roughly $2.5 billion in subsidies through a reverse auction, but not a single smaller provider was able to participate. The lots were too big (my local area had a reserve bid of $51 million), and the bonding requirements were excessive (want to bid on that $51 million lot? Better be bonded for $51 million even if your planned bid is going to be a fraction of that). I don't know of any carriers that bond their projects -- if the builder doesn't make progress in a month, then they don't get paid. It's pretty sad that governments don't hand out telecom subsidies in a competitively neutral manner. Funding Make Ready costs for repairing pre-existing conditions and addressing lack of Spare Capacity on existing pole lines would make it easier for all carriers large and small to participate in the market. Beyond that, obligating pole owners to pre-engineer telecom attachments would really help. The region I live in is primarily served with aerial communications strand on poles as there are too many rocks, hills and trees to make wireless or burial viable for many of the unserved.