Final answer:
A modem model sold by a service provider is considered a product for the consumer and an asset for the company. This ties into the discussion of technology's role in utilities and the FCC's regulation of broadband providers to prevent a digital divide.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing whether a modem model sold by a service provider is a product or an asset, it's important to consider the context. In the hands of the service provider, it is considered inventory - a type of current asset - which they sell to customers as a product. Once the modem is sold, it becomes a product for the consumer to use. This conversation ties into the broader topic of how such products and infrastructure are considered in relation to utilities and the evolution of technology, as seen in the transition from wired to wireless services in communication technology.
In the modern context of telecommunications, companies such as AT&T lost their monopolies when new technologies allowed multiple firms to use the same transmission mechanisms, changing the landscape of what we consider utilities. Today, with the presence of Internet service providers as potential common carriers and the pressure of maintaining a profitable business model, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the federal government play significant roles in regulating how broadband providers operate, aiming to ensure that advancements and service expansions are made without creating a divide between those with access to the Internet and those without.