An article called "The United States of Broadband" is available over at TomPaine.com [link no longer available]. It's well worth a read, as it takes the Federal government and the FCC in particular to task about the sorry state of broadband in the United States.
However, I am a bit contrarian compared to the article. While I do not think the FCC has done all it could, I am unconvinced that forcing the cable and telephone companies to carry competitor's traffic is the solution. That's a bit like saying FedEx should be forced to carry packages for UPS. As soon as you take the concept and apply in another business area, you usually can see what sounds good in theory does not make much sense in practice.
The article has done what so many other articles and papers have done: it confuses roads with the trucks that travel over the roads. Let's look at this way:
Our Roads Transport System
Our Digital Transport System
Infrastructure
Roads are built and maintained by the community for the use of all, including private firms
that want to use them to deliver goods and services.
Telecom duct, fiber, and wireless sites and towers are built and maintained by the community for the use of all, including private firms
that want to use them to deliver goods and services.
Access
Access to the community road system is provided by parking lots and driveways, built by property owners and/or developers and builders. Developers often build roads as well, and turn them over to the community to maintain.
Access to the community d system is provided by duct, fiber, and wireless systems, built by property owners and/or developers and builders. Developers often install telecom as well, and turn the duct over to the community to maintain.
Services
The local government uses roads to deliver government services. The local government does not compete with the private sector by trying to sell services like overnight package delivery. Private sector businesses use roads so that their own cars and trucks can deliver goods and services to customers. Because businesses do not have to build and maintain roads, all businesses benefit directly by being able to reach more customers at less expense. Governments pay for the cost of maintaining roads in part from (indirect) tax revenue from businesses that use those roads, and direct taxes on items like tires and gasoline.
The local government uses the digital transport system to deliver government services. The local government does not compete with the private sector by trying to sell services like broadband access or Voice over IP. Private sector businesses use the digital transport system so that they can deliver goods and services to customers. Because businesses do not have to build and maintain a digital road system, all businesses benefit directly by being able to reach more customers at less expense. Governments pay for the cost of maintaining the digital road system in part from (indirect) tax revenue from businesses that use those roads, and in part from direct use fees.
It really can be just like roads--a model that has worked well for decades. And it is not hard to understand if we keep things classified properly.