By Johna Till Johnson, Network World, 06/27/05

In my last column , I took issue with the idea of the federal government interfering with the right of local governments to create municipal wireless networks. Whether you agree or disagree with the specifics of that case, it raises a broader question: What, exactly, should the government's role be with respect to telecom services and networks?

There are multiple contradictory precedents and perspectives. One philosophy holds that communications networks are a common good and should be funded, built and operated by the government. The models for this are the U.S. Postal Service and, more recently, the interstate highway system.