"If your family doesn't have or can't afford broadband, and your classmates who can afford it sit at home and do their research on the Internet, you're missing out and not learning on a lot of skills," Vos said.

Opponents like Balhoff don't believe cities have an obligation to provide such service.

"It's political posturing at its worst," Balhoff said. "There are ways to decide whether you'll subsidize people who live in certain communities or provide them with free technologies rather than saying you'll provide it across the entire population of the city."

Besides, he added, broadband prices already are low.

"Verizon offers DSL service in the same speed range [as municipal Wi-Fi] for as little as US$15 a month," Balhoff said. Just as important, he said, is that it just isn't right that governments are competing with private business.