[dillonmckay]

It is not like it is a P2P mesh network.

Land leases are expensive for tower placement, and they need electricity and a backup generator, to power the comm. equipment and the air conditioning.

And then we can talk about HVAC maintenance.

[palijer]

Don't the utility companies have the same issues with infrastructure placement and land though? Or is there some eminent domain thing for power utilities that doesn't apply to telecom?

[brendawalsh]

Well, in the US, electric and telephone have more rights and regulations, compared to cable television.

So, as a telecom, it is better to go in under the guise of a CATV company and use a franchise agreement, then as a phone company that also offers TV, and internet.

Also, if the poles are already there (usually phone or power), the new entrant is able to lease a portion of the pole to string infrastructure.

Sometimes the municipality owns the power company.

Cellular providers lease tower space from private companies that negotiate the tower placement with private land owners.

[closeparen]

Power was built out at a time when infrastructure projects were still feasible and NIMBYs had less influence.