The mayor of Vermont's largest city says he thinks its municipal phone, Internet and cable TV service will get past its current troubles and be a key asset to the city in the future.

Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss' comments followed revelations that Burlington Telecom's main source of financing - an arm of Citibank - was terminating its lease for nonpayment and demanding the return of equipment worth millions of dollars.

BT also owes $17 million to a city pooled cash account - money that it was barred from using by state law but did so anyway.

Both state and federal authorities have begun criminal investigations.