As someone who worked for many years on Boston’s municipal Wi-Fi projects, I was pleased to read the Globe’s editorial on the need for a citywide fiber-optic network here (“Build a fiber network in Boston,’’ Feb. 14).

The existing Comcast near-monopoly does not provide Boston’s residents with connections that are fast or open enough to foster innovative uses of the Internet. It also does not provide Internet access at all to many in the city who cannot afford the excessive cost.

Most municipal fiber projects have been done in cities and towns with publicly owned electric utilities, which own the necessary underground conduit. If we are to bring an advanced, open, and affordable fiber-optic network to Boston, we will have to create, as your editorial states, a public institution that can build and manage it, using existing and new conduit and fiber.

I hope that the Walsh administration will make it a priority to get this network started. Even the threat of such a network might result in improved service and lower cost from the existing providers.

Bob Tumposky

Roslindale