In Fiber to the People (Wired), Lawrence Lessig argues that advanced fiber networks are “natural monopolies” and hence should be backed by local governments as a cost-saving measures, so long as the customers remain the owners (in what sense they are owners is never spelled out). All his arguments are thoroughly addressed in ”The Myth of Natural Monopoly” by Thomas DiLorenzo (RAE, 9.2) as long ago as 1996.
