Communism or competition?

Wired's Lawrence Lessig joins the cry against banning municipalities from offering communications services.

He argues that the big telecos have their own priorities to providing high-speed internet, and if communities don't want to wait ten years or more to get high-speed wireless internet, they might want to do it themselves.

Unfortunately, several states are (at the behest of the telecos) banning their communities from doing this. Good grief, says Lessig - they offer lighting and road services, why not wireless internet, if the taxpayers desire it? This is providing competition for the telcos, and encouraging them to get on the ball.

Any responses?