Backers of fiber-optics venture defend plan in e-mail

UTOPIA chief sends out letter touting benefits

Murray Mayor Dan Snarr, responding to a Deseret Morning News editorial, has sent an e-mail letter supporting the Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) to 2,850 local government officials, business leaders and others.

UTOPIA is a coalition of 18 Wasatch Front cities — including seven in Salt Lake County — that wants to build a regional, wholesale fiber-optics network to provide high-speed video, voice and data technology to every home and business in those communities.

But some observers, including the Deseret Morning News editorial writers, are skeptical about the proposal, which would require the 18 cities to borrow about $470 million to create the digital network. In the next few months those 18 city councils will be asked to set aside sales tax revenue to guarantee funds for the project.

The Deseret Morning News editorial said UTOPIA has "all the signs of a boondoggle" and suggested leaving such ventures to the private sector.

Snarr, who serves as chairman of the UTOPIA board, responded with a six-page e-mail that explains why he thinks the cities should go forward with UTOPIA.

The mayor also used the e-mail to announce the formation of Utahns for Telecom Choices, a privately funded citizens' group intended to "spread the word" about UTOPIA and "make sure city councils know that they have the support of the overwhelming majority of the citizens and businesses in their areas."

You can obtain a copy of Snarr's e-mail by request at telecomchoices@hotmail.com.

"This community digital pipeline is a project that, once people understand it, they love it," said Hugh Matheson, managing partner of the Exoro Group, a public relations firm, who helped Snarr craft the letter.

"It was just a good way to send a somewhat detailed explanation of the overall project to people who needed to know more about it. And the response has been 100-percent positive. We've had a pretty high response rate so far."

Sandy previously pulled out of UTOPIA and was replaced by Salt Lake City, which is now having second thoughts. But Snarr said at least 10 other cities want to join, so he isn't concerned that the needed financial support for UTOPIA will evaporate.

"My opinion is Salt Lake City will be the big loser at the end of the day if they don't come on-board," Snarr said. "Many other municipalities already understand the wisdom of what we're trying to do and they're anxious to be a part of UTOPIA, so we can replace Salt Lake City in a heartbeat."

The project will create "an environment for economic revitalization" in the cities that participate, he said.

The Murray City Council is expected to vote on whether to dedicate revenue for a UTOPIA "contingency fund," as Snarr refers to it, sometime in January.

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E-mail: zman@desnews.com

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