I love how this myth has morphed over time. Not only did nobody get "paid billions to upgrade their infrastructure from the government." But even insofar as you assert that lifting rate regulations (where the government tell you what prices you can charge) is the same as "getting paid billions" that was for telephone companies, not cable companies like Comcast. But don't get facts get in the way of Political Truth (TM).

Leaving billions aside, they were granted local monopolies in many places due to their investment. One might argue they have not been good stewards of that responsibility.