Unload iProvo, critic urges

On Dec. 20, 2006, Provo city officials fired back at Titch's findings in a 32-page response that called into question many of his assertions. They also stated the report's conclusions were not reliable because the foundation has an anti-government slant and "a definite predisposition against municipal broadband deployment."

Titch said the foundation does have an explicit goal to promote ideals including individual liberty, free markets and the rule of law. But he insisted the report is fact-based.

"The facts are there," he said. "The fact that Provo lost $2 million last year is not an opinion."

In their response, Provo officials also questioned Titch's credibility because he worked as a consultant for Qwest, a competitor to iProvo.

"Mr. Titch can hardly be considered an independent or unbiased source for objective information about iProvo," the report stated. "Particularly in light of his business relationships."

Titch said he did consulting work in 2003 for Qwest Communications, but that was long before he joined the Reason Foundation in 2005. He said his past affiliation didn't color his harsh critique of iProvo.

City Councilman Steve Turley called Provo's response to Titch's first report a "knee-jerk" reaction that trashed the messenger, not the message.

"The truth hurts," he said. "When it comes to iProvo there's a lot of hurt."

The latest Reason Foundation report comes amid a massive effort to assess and retool iProvo's operations. Last year, the city hired CCG Consulting and Franklin Court Partners to analyze the network. Acting telecom manager Kevin Garlick said they will release draft copies of the consultant reports today, and the City Council is planning to meet Monday to discuss the findings.

Titch stated Provo stands to join other cities such as Ashland, Ore.; Lebanon, Ohio; Jackson, Tenn.; Marietta, Ga.; Tacoma, Wash.; and Trion, Ga., as cities that have thrown away millions on broadband programs that failed to deliver promised benefits.

Stewart said he suspects they'll discuss three different options: bringing on extra providers, having city departments pay for their use of the network, and privatizing.

Turley said he'd be happy if he could vote to privatize iProvo if the opportunity came his way in the next four years.

"The iProvo thing was a bad idea from the start," he said.

The latest Reason Foundation report can be found at www.reason.org.

The city's response to the first Reason Foundation report can be found at www.provo.org/downloads/util/building_a_digital_community.pdf.

---

E-mail: jdana@desnews.com