Nothing in this world is black and white, and the battle over municipal broadband is certainly proof of that. While many of those who strongly back the rights of cities, towns and villages to build their own networks are quick to rail against incumbent providers such as Verizon, there are others, such as Tom Gray, mayor of Chatham, Ill., who has only nice things to say about his phone company.

That's in part because Verizon is building a wireless data network that later this spring will enable residents of Chatham, a suburb of Illinois' capital, Springfield, to get high-speed data service that isn't available everywhere today. As a booming bedroom community hoping to attract new retailers and the local sales taxes they bring, Chatham needs to have ubiquitous broadband service, said Gray.

"We had actually even thought about getting into the broadband business with our electric company," said Gray. "When Verizon approached us about doing this, we were thrilled."

Insight Communications, the local cable company, provides broadband data service as well, but is not available everywhere, the mayor said.

"Plus, we welcome competition in our community. It helps to keep prices down," he said.

Chatham was once a town of 800 people with a grain elevator and a coal mine, Gray said. In recent years, its population has exploded, even as its neighbor, Springfield, also continues to expand. The two towns were once 10 miles apart and are now barely five, as cornfields give way to subdivisions and shopping malls.

"What [the new wireless network does] does is makes it a more attractive place for our residents, and as our population continues to grow, the retail is going to follow," he explained. "We just opened a new Walgreens and a big Ace Hardware, and there's an 80-acre commercial development just getting ready to start. We're attracting population, and we want to have the services in place to continue to make Chatham attractive."

Of course, building a wireless network for one town in Illinois does not resolve the issues municipal broadband advocates have with Verizon and other incumbents. But that and other examples--such as the FiOS network in Fort Wayne, Ind.--are a clear indication that this is not a black and white story. And it's the shades of gray that need more focus.

E-mail me at CWilson3@primediabusiness.com.