A utility is a private company, a public agency, or a cooperative of organizations that provide a service to the public. Some services commonly thought of as utilities are electricity generation and distribution, oil and natural gas distribution, telephone and other communication services, cable television, and water and wastewater management. More recently, high-speed Internet services and cell phone provision have become increasingly important utilities. Geographic information systems (GIS) are one of the most important technologies for the efficient operation and management of utilities.