Craig Settles explains the advantages of community fiber telecom infrastructure in this Government Technology piece. The key advantage over investor-owed infrastructure can be summed up in three words: more patient capital. Telecom infrastructure built by local governments and cooperatives doesn't need a return on investment in just 3-5 years -- an inherent flaw of the investor-owed business model given the high capital cost of constructing and operating it.
Settles correctly notes there is money to be made for private players -- if they are willing to partner with communities in open access fiber projects and abandon the outdated business model of 100 percent ownership and monopolistic control.
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