Opponents also worry that private providers could undercut existing public ones, in effect running loss-leader services to drive others out of business.
Mr. Bush says he expects Comverge, which has been running losses, to achieve profitability next year.
The bureau also said a rush to build airports had led to a glut, with 127 or the nation's 143 airports running losses.
In itself that may not look like a big number but it can be a big thing for a company that's running losses.
Many Internet companies are continuing to run losses and to drain their available cash.
A.&P. has run losses for several consecutive quarters, including a $153.7 million loss for the three months ended Sept. 11.
Outside London, bus services are deregulated, and operators will be reluctant to run loss-making services when new developments are starting out.
SubmitOrder, privately held, runs losses on about $20 million in annual revenue (for shipping $100 million in goods).
makes 300 house calls a month but will run losses of $80,000 this year, despite subsidies from the local Central DuPage Health system.
Sometimes, if traffic is low, Fry's will run loss-leaders on items as prosaic as Coca-Cola, a classic supermarket tactic.
"He was always willing to run losses for a considerable period when others would have given up," says Virgin cofounder Nik Powell, who's now a movie producer.
