Final answer:
Public right-of-ways and their uses are determined by local governmental bodies, typically city or county governments, not private companies. These authorities regulate public spaces to serve the greater public good, while federal involvement is broader and typically through entities like the FCC for certain regulations. B) City or County government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The entities that determine public right-of-ways and the purposes for which they can be used are typically governmental bodies, not private companies. The correct choice is B) City or County government. These local governments often have the authority to regulate public spaces, including streets and utilities, in order to serve what they determine to be the greater public good. It is not the role of cable companies, utility companies, or the federal government to make these determinations at the local level, although the federal government may have jurisdiction in broader regulatory frameworks for certain utilities or communications networks, as seen with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Products and services like water and electrical service have traditionally been considered utilities because the infrastructure required to provide these services is extensive and it would be inefficient for multiple companies to build duplicate systems, as with water pipes or electric wires. These utilities are often natural monopolies for practical reasons. However, as technology evolves, what we consider utilities may change; for instance, the advent of wireless communications has shifted how telephone services are provided.
The concept of nonexcludable goods or services, such as police protection, roads, and primary education, is integral to understanding public right-of-ways and utilities. These are services that, typically, cannot be withheld from individuals once provided and are available to all members of the community. They are contrasted with excludable goods or services like streaming music or cell phone service, which a consumer can be prevented from accessing if they do not pay for them.