[brendawalsh]

Well, in the US, electric and telephone have more rights and regulations, compared to cable television.

So, as a telecom, it is better to go in under the guise of a CATV company and use a franchise agreement, then as a phone company that also offers TV, and internet.

Also, if the poles are already there (usually phone or power), the new entrant is able to lease a portion of the pole to string infrastructure.

Sometimes the municipality owns the power company.

Cellular providers lease tower space from private companies that negotiate the tower placement with private land owners.