content: The point of allowing utility companies to be monopolies was (and still is) because the infrastructure required to provide the services is ridiculously expensive to provide. In some areas that are sparsely populated they even need to subsidize the service in order to make it affordable to the local populace (look up universal service fund) However, the deal was that in exchange for unfettered access to a customer base, the utility companies had to keep it affordable. They aren't holding up their end of the deal by charging high fees for substandard service. The problem with your solution is that it is unlikely that enough people in smaller towns would be able to gather enough financial support (voting with their dollars) to bring in enough competition to insure low rates. Instead, one or maybe two companies might come in and charge fees through the nose. Any other additional competition would be blocked by the high cost and limited ROI that would be involved to enter the town.