High-tech plan in Provo

PROVO — While at work in his office two miles from his south Provo residence, Brett Wells likes to access his home computer. He might grab some files or search for some work documents, but really he just wants to watch television.

Through his personal computer at home, he can program his computer's television tuner and record his favorite shows. Afterward, he can download the shows to his work computer.

It's something he doesn't do often, because it can take up to three hours to download the programs. His home's high-speed Internet connection just doesn't transmit fast enough. Instead, he usually copies them to his laptop so he can carry them around.

He may soon have a faster and easier way to download his favorite program — "The O'Reilly Factor" — if Provo's City Council approves a $39.5 million bond issuance on Jan. 20 to pay for iProvo.

First conceived to help support the city's electrical system, iProvo would create a citywide network of fiber-optic connections capable of letting residents access television, telephone and Internet services — and letting city workers read parking meters and watch traffic flow.

City officials continued a push toward high-tech life this week with public forums during which officials displayed iProvo in action.

"I think the biggest plus for Provo is the spending on IT," Wells said.

The iProvo plan would outfit the city's 32,000 homes and businesses with fiber optics. The technology allows increased bandwidth — the amount of information sent.

With just one fiber-optic line, residents could receive up to 221 channels of digital television, high-speed Internet and telephone. The city has already equipped some neighborhoods with the service, but the full rollout awaits financing approval.

Residents would be able to purchase Internet, telephone and television services through iProvo. Wells said he is looking forward to receiving just one bill for his television, telephone and Internet connections.

The proposed system would allow residents to surf the Internet at speeds drastically above current technologies. And, says Bruce Riddle, business operations manager for the project, the open-access system will allow for more competition in the area.

"You'll get more products and services," Riddle said.