In 2009 officials in northeastern Minnesota’s sparsely populated Lake County boldly promised a broadband network would revolutionize telecommunications in the remote area by delivering much needed new businesses and jobs. The network was estimated to cost $66-$70 million and be “entirely built and supported… with no local taxpayer pledges or funds.” Today Lake County’s troubled broadband project serves as another cautionary tale of the perils of government-owned broad- band networks.