Esme Vos reports on Madison, Wisconsin's efforts to build a municipal wireless network: Madison is skirting the law enacted July 2004 that prevents municipalities from building any kind of network--phone, data, or cable--without a number of intermediate steps, such as hearings. Madison is using a third party, so they aren't subject to the law. They're essentially establishing a new franchise, as Esme points out.
Esme also notes a hilarious situation that resulted when Jackson, Wisconsin, was sued by the telco and cable trade associations in Wisconsin. Esme reports that the city says the suit was dismissed because the judge ruled the groups lacked the standing to bring a lawsuit! Who could sue? Probably only a state agency, I'd wager, having read the Wisconsin law. [link via GigaOm]