iProvo is healthy, Billings asserts
But mayoral opponent says network is a mess
Bailey filed his candidacy on Friday and told supporters, "iProvo is to Billings as Iraq is to Bush." Meanwhile, Billings held a televised press conference to say iProvo is healthy and has two new service providers to replace HomeNet, which announced earlier this week that it was pulling out of the project.
Billings went a step further with a bold election season projection.
"I think you'll see remarkable leaps in subscriptions in the next 60 days," he said. "We'll go from under 2,000 subscribers to iProvo to 4,000 in 60 days. We'll be nearly halfway to where we need to be. I think you'll see us go into Thanksgiving with 4,000 to 5,000 subscribers, which will put us ahead of schedule."
Much of that growth could come through MSTAR and Veracity, the two service providers certified by the city Friday. Both companies are local and have thousands of clients in Provo, many of whom are expected to switch to the phone, cable TV or Internet services the companies will offer over iProvo's speedier network.
"We are going to be offering those services to our (Provo) customers anticipating they'll want to move to a superior network," Veracity president Drew Peterson said.
Existing iProvo customers serviced by HomeNet will be divided between the two new service providers based on private deals struck between HomeNet and the companies. The city will notify customers by letter next week who their new service provider will be, and the transition will take place by Aug. 1, Provo energy director Kevin Garlick said.
Customers sold by HomeNet to MSTAR will have the freedom to jump to Veracity if they wish and vice versa, said Paul Venturella, iProvo's telecommunications manager.
Peterson and MSTAR president Jon Hansen said their companies will offer "triple-play" packages phone, cable TV and broadband Internet for as low as $99 to $100 monthly.
Customers also will be able to purchase double-play packages or a single service. The Internet phone service, which allows customers to call anywhere and includes caller ID, call waiting and voice mail, will cost $30 a month.
The network offers a connection of 10 megabits per second. DSL lines transmit 1.2 megabits per second.
Bailey called iProvo a mess, based in part on a delayed start and city documents that show revenue and subscriptions well below projections at midyear. Billings said revenue and subscribers are catching up with projections now, but numbers from the end of the fiscal year, which ended June 30, remained unavailable Friday. City officials would only say the system has more than 1,800 customers.
Comments
- Luxury home market stalls 12:02 p.m.
- Kirk Douglas classic on DVD 11:38 a.m.
- Zion fire moving southeast 11:36 a.m.
- More school-money than expected 11:24 a.m.
- Virginia 'Freedman's' project done 11:12 a.m.
- Teen relive Mormon trek 11:12 a.m.
- Oldest American to scale Mount Everest 11:07 a.m.
- Knicks sign first-round pick 10:59 a.m.
- Armstrong third, Leipheimer fourthe 10:58 a.m.
- 6.0 quake in China 10:43 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Man spots his stolen car
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- LDS seminary principal arrested
252 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
162 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
119 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
98 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
76 - Letters: Single-payer system best
75
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
where do you meet?
anyone who wants this girl to share "any" of the blame are wrongheaded and...
Yep--just when you thought it couldn't get any more ridiculous, a couple of...
Thanks Bill for helping to stop this genocide and getting other nations...
So easy for those with no standards to cry and whine about those with them....
I seem to recall a black woman who once was asked politely to give up her...
What the Jazz need to do is trade all the players and fold. These guys are...
Its time to let Paul go and be over paid for a back up roll. Thats all he...
What if something like this happened to YOUR child?
It seems to be that people are forgetting who coached one of the best power...



You can be the first to comment on this story.