Reader comments
UTOPIA project is too costly

The optical transmission concept appears to be very sound with significant promise of capacity and speed.

If a government agency is not able to properly plan-manage-control such a project, it should be offered to the highest bidder and the quasi-government company dissolved. Even if it is sold for pennies on the dollar it is better than the cities taking on even more debt.

BUT, the superior technology should be allowed and even encouraged by proper regulatios to proceed.

Since 1970, fiber optic technology has been available. Since the 1980's, it's been quite important creating our worldwide information infrastructure. Worldwide, fiber optics are replacing copper wire for communications infrastructure. Upgrading to fiber optics is a step forward, and a long term investment.

Internet service providers are currently limited to phone lines and cable boxes to provide average consumers access to the internet. For less than what I'm paying currently for a 1.5 Mbps DSL line, I could be getting 10 Mbps. Private companies, like Qwest and Comcast, aren't progressing because they don't have to. Private citizens have no other choices. The only thing at stake in this decision is their profit margin and market control.

Will some new communication infrastructure product come out in the future? Most definitely, But just sitting around waiting for the future is not going to help us get there any faster. If it has taken 30 years to adapt to this technology, how long will it take to adapt to the next step?

Seeing the options available on the East coast, something needs to be done here. UTOPIA is the only one working to put Utah's internet access closer to what is available on the East coast, and other parts of the world. It has been well documented that the US is lagging far behind in average broadband speed.

People may be anti-Comcast/Qwest, but it is primarily due to their ever increasing prices with small changes to their infrastructure.

I am currently looking to buy a home, and am looking in Murray, and Midvale due to UTOPIA.

Mike be prepared for 1300 to 3500 dollar membership fee and 300 dollar install charge and extra fee's for city service's to pay the bond

You mean a $54 installation fee and a $40 monthly rate for 50mbit bi-directional traffic? Because I got UTOPIA today and that's what it costs.

This article is pretty old, and surprisingly things haven't changed much. I too had fiber optic in Midvale and was only paying $40 for 3X the speeds that Comast offers and almost 8X the speeds that Qwest offers. I am very sorry to say that the cities that backed out of UTOPIA got duped to say the least, and I put all the blame on Qwest. Comcast even uses fiber to a certain point, and runs copper to the house. Do a little research and you'll find out that it was Qwest who ruined it for those of us who live outside of UTOPIA. Just like Mike, I too will be looking for a home within UTOPIA's range. I will gladly pay taxes to a city that was smart enough to join UTOPIA.