Cable companies want to block cities from building fiber networks. Here’s how the FCC could intervene.

Around the country, local governments have taken it upon themselves to build their own fiber-optic networks. This effort was met in Kansas with a bill written by cable lobbyists who sought to ban cities from building municipal broadband projects.

While the state cable association has since agreed to amend the bill in the face of public criticism, the incident is a reminder that public infrastructure projects can be especially fraught when it comes to Internet service. But what so far has been a fight between states, cities and established commercial incumbents may soon become an issue for federal regulators. A recent court decision has given the Federal Communications Commission a green light to intervene in these situations, industry analysts say. While it's too early to tell whether the FCC intends to exercise this power, mayors would find a powerful ally in Washington if they could convince the FCC to intervene.