From Deseret News archives:
Leave UTOPIA to the dreamers
The leaders of this venture have dubbed it UTOPIA, for, roughly, Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency. They say it is government's role to wire everyone to the high-speed Internet, just as it is government's role to build roads and sewers. And they say this is the ticket to an economic development bonanza. Some are calling it the most ambitious project of its kind in the world.
But it has all the signs of a boondoggle.
UTOPIA's proponents say the project is certain to meet the Internet needs of residents and businesses for at least 20 years, which would be the life of the bonds they hope to secure to finance it. They have impressive figures to share about the speed and bandwidth fiber optic provides, and they compare it to the relatively meager capabilities of DSL and other commercial offerings.
But predicting the future can be a tricky thing. When it comes to telecommunications, it can be downright foolhardy.
Since then, a lot of people have made money, and a lot have lost everything, trying to invest in the future. That's how the private market works, but governments shouldn't be taking such risks.
Yes, fiber optic is far superior to anything currently available. Yes, it is inherently superior to wireless communications. But 20 years is an eternity in the telecommunications realm, and private markets tend to have minds of their own. It would be dangerous to leave taxpayers vulnerable to an industry that is best wrestled with by men and women who want to risk their own cash.
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