You have a lot of granularity with the options. If you start on the hardest settings, you are sure to fail (but I actually liked learning it like that). You can modify which features require your management, such as water, waste, education, loyalty, etc. It is often recommended that new players start with most of the options on the easier settings, then turn on new features as you learn.
Edit: spelling
That is outrageous. US telecom companies need to be nationalized or burned down.