[kyebosh]

Obviously the situation has it's differences, but the original form of the National Broadband Network[0] here in Australia was, in part, to help nip these kinds of problems in the bud. It was close to a nationwide glass utility, but still allowed for a competitive commercial market. There was a lot of excitement for both short-term technological gains & long-term economics. I'm still dirty it got so mangled.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Broadband_Network

As an off-topic aide: was "I'm not a communist" tongue in cheek? Or would such an infrastructure project be actually seen as "communist" &/or undesirable just for it's oversight?

Edit: terminology, link