To date, most residential customers to the Internet have used dial-up modems with a top speed of about 56.6 kbps [kilobits per second]. In the past two years broadband access has become available via cable modems offered by the local unregulated cable provider and via digital subscriber lines...

This chapter analyzes the potential benefits of municipal-owned broadband in terms of stimulating local economic activity. Some economists posit that muni broadband might discourage investment by privately owned Internet service providers, thereby offsetting any incremental investment from local...