This country is so corrupt, it's toast.
The real competition is for political influence. Especially with ‘rats in increasing control.
There is another side to the story. This is a city government that is running a business competing with private companies. In order to keep their price for internet down and corner the market they can subsidize it with increased property tax revenues, utility service increases, trash collection fees...........
“a company started by a city government”
WTF? why is the gov’t in any way shape or form doing this? Cheaper because they don’t pay the taxes, and rip off the taxpayers to build the equipment?
The upstart company is funded by a city govt so you have to ask yourself is it profitable or subsidized by the taxpayer? If a govt entity uses taxpayer money to run legitimate businesses out of business then you do have an Atlas Shrugged moment, just not in the way you envision it.