It's worth considering the opportunity cost of making them state-owned vs. the net costs of lack of access and excessive charges by corporate exploitation to see which is cheaper and better. Internet access and usage shouldn't be held hostage by a few, greedy rent-seekers.
Regulation as utilities is a minimum need, but corporations will always find ways to conduct regulatory capture and game the rules. This is why I think utilities need to be mostly social venture nonprofits that are highly-regulated.
The (non-communist reds) reds would see (communist) reds under the beds.
I think some of the blues would too.
New Zealand has had the government fund a large portion of its fibre rollout and taken ownership of portions of the infrastructure companies. Infrastructure ownership is by different companies to service providers.
This has been controversial but it has had pretty good results. Gigabit is available in cities, with 2,4 and 8gb/s being rolled out now.
more realist view: shareholders would revolt because these stocks would seamingly have less value.
broad realism: most of todays monopolies are accepted because the dumping of retirements into 401ks and pension funds means private interests and corporate interests resist any thing that could potentially devalue their holdings.
you dont need politics to see this, just the tendrils oc capitalism and privatization
Because of the expense (5th Amendment.)
Making them more-regulated-but-still-private utilities would have a lower up front cost, and probably work just as well.