[twoodfin]

Usually telecom companies laying down infrastructure are given rights of way and easements that make their jobs much, much, less expensive.

Is it traditional for states and localities to just give this stuff away? If they're not accepting competitive bids for the right to lay fiber, they're leaving money on the table.

Certainly when it comes to things like wireless spectrum, the Feds have auctions for billions of dollars.

Here's a pre-dot com crash article that suggests at least for some areas these rights weren't given away:

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1999-06-04/business/9906040...