Taking small steps

•The first step: UTOPIA will take out bond funding for $25 million of the total $340 million project. The $25 million will be used to build the first part of the network in a yet-to-be-determined city. The network, which will service up to 3,000 first-ever customers, will also be used as a testing ground to work out technological issues and operations management.

•The next step: Once the $25 million mini-network is established, UTOPIA will take out bonding for $65 million to build a larger network in a different location to serve 50,000 customers. If successful, UTOPIA officials will then begin planning to build the rest of the network, which will be offered to more than 300,000 people in 11 cities.