Thanks to Mike Horwath for the heads up on today’s article in Ars Technica on the mixed messages cities are getting from the government on municipal networks. As they point out in the article, the federal government is supporting municipal networks – most obviously with the ARRA broadband awards. As they also point out, the states have been less supportive.

The article includes a nice map detailing the differing level of barriers state put up to cities looking to provide broadband services. More than half of the states have no barriers in place, only four have outright bans, three others have de facto bans and the rest have some barriers. (Minnesota falls into the some barriers category.)

A couple of Wisconsin towns with municipal networks are featured – and the tell the story of why (and to some degree how) towns get involved in providing broadband services. The article highlight comes in the form of a simple reader comment…

If I move, this map will play a role in my decision on where to go.