The language generally used by proponents of municipal broadband is that internet access is a necessity or a utility. A survey conducted by Openet suggests many consumers and citizens also believe mobile service is a utility, in the United Kingdom, Colombia, Canada, Indonesia and Singapore.
More than half of all respondents consider mobile service “a utility along the lines of gas, water or electricity.” But only about 21 percent believe mobile operators “always will be” utilities. About 31 percent of those who view mobile service as a utility believe mobile operators can add more value.
Those findings do not necessarily correspond to the regulatory framework for mobile services in the United States, nor did the survey poll U.S. consumers. Still, the findings do point out some degree of market and regulatory exposure, to the extent that U.S. consumers have similar views.
“Broadband internet services (both fixed-line and mobile) are increasingly being included within the definition” of public utilities, according to Wikipedia.
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