Cities across the U.S. that are being left behind by major broadband providers are taking matters into their own hands and deploying networks of their own. That's the premise of a feature spread by Om Malik in Business 2.0 (May, 2005, p. 97).

Broadband internet service is becoming indispensable to teachers and doctors, which puts rural residents at a disadvantage. Broadband also is recognized as an engine of economic growth, the article says, and some locales simply don't want to be left behind.

A fold-out map illustrates 19 examples of cities that have rolled out their own broadband, and briefly explains the major technologies they're using. Some examples:

Manassas, VA, installed a broadband over powerlines (BPL) network that provides 300 kilobit service via existing electric wires. That's not fast by today's standards, but it's affordable for low-income residents. Comcast offers cable broadband in the area, but the BPL service is about half the cost. (more on BPL)

The Dalles, OR, population 12,000, got a federal grant to connect to the Northwest Open Access Network. They use the fiber-optic network to provide high-speed internet to schools and hospitals. It may have been partly responsible for Google's decision to locate a tech center there, employing 100 people.

Cleveland, OH, set up a non-profit to sell broadband to healthcare and education institutions, among others. The entity, funded by major equipment manufacturers, subsidizes free access for schools and libraries.

* * *

Across the U.S., the authors report, "conflicts have erupted as local governments attempt to create publicly funded broadband services with faster connections and cheaper rates for all citizens, narrowing the so-called digital divide. The Bells and cable companies, for their part, argue that government intervention in their business is not justified and say they are far better equipped to operate complex and far-flung data networks."

More about legislation than technology, the article makes no mention of BPL.

This online piece includes an interactive map that compares states by their initiatives to either deploy broadband, or restrict municipalities from doing it. Twenty states have acted to place restrictions on communities creating their own networks in areas already served by Bells and cable companies. More than half have legally stopped future municipal broadband development cold, say the authors.

Philadelphia, for example, announced plans to deploy a Wi-Fi network that would provide broadband service for half what Verizon charges. Verizon fought the initiative, and successfully lobbied Pennsylvania lawmakers to ban such projects without Verizon's input.

AT&T pulled the plug last year on a partnership with PG&E to deploy BPL in Menlo Park, CA, according to a BPL opposition group report. Without the partner, PG&E is quoted as saying it couldn't justify continuing the trial, so it removed the equipment from its poles.

These conflicts won't be resolved any time soon. Battles are flaring up across the country, pitting small communities (and some big ones) against the heavy hitters of the communications industry. Meanwhile, some interesting technologies are being put to the real-world test.

BPL, a tiny player as technologies go, has its own battles to fight with amateur radio operators who say it interferes with radio signals. The war is over (the FCC ruled in favor of BPL) but the battles rage on.