Want fast internet? Threaten to build a public network

A friend sent me this article about a suburb of Minneapolis in Minnesota (Monticello) that managed to get some wickedly fast internet service out of the regional private ISP. Too bad it wasn't the result of their own willingness to provide such service of their own free will. A summary:

Monticello: Yo, ISP. You plan to get fibre-to-the-home?
ISP: Nope.
Monticello: Yo, public. You want fibre-to-the-home?
Public: Damned straight!
Monticello: OK, we're doing it ourselves.
ISP: Whoa. Lawsuit!
Monticello: WTF!
ISP: In light of the public's demand for fibre-to-the-home, we'll build it.
Monticello: Sneaky bastards.
ISP: You tricked us. We don't believe the public really wanted fibre-to-the-home.
Monticello: Wankers.
Public: Woo hoo! Fibre-to-the-home! 50Mbps speeds!