Actually - his point is valid - until these other companies are willing to lay out huge sums of money to wire a location for an undefined return - no one else is going to be able to compete even if it is allowed. He just out it in a humorous way - that is all.
Not only willing to put up the money for cables to be run, but also needs to actually get a franchise agreement with city. If a franchise reform goes through and are no longer needed then the issue of money still stands.