Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Utah Plans Digital Public Works Project

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Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 11-17-2003, 09:19 AM:

I'm really surprised to learn of a progressive Public Works Project building an ultra-high speed network planned for 18 cities along Highway 15 in Utah: Read Story
November 17, 2003

In Utah, Public Works Project in Digital
By MATT RICHTEL

SALT LAKE CITY - When it comes to the Internet, residents of Utah are taking matters into their own hands.

In a 21st-century twist on Roosevelt-era public works projects, Salt Lake City and 17 other Utah cities are planning to build the largest ultrahigh-speed digital network in the country.

Construction on the project is scheduled to start next spring - if the cities can raise the money to pull it off. The network would be capable of delivering data over the Internet to homes and businesses at speeds 100 times faster than current commercial residential offerings. It would also offer digital television and telephone services through the Internet.

With a $470 million price tag, the project is considered one of the most ambitious efforts in the world to deploy fiber optic cables, which carry data in bursts of light over glass fibers. Though it has not received much attention outside the area, the project has raised questions here about the role of government, particularly from telecommunications companies, which are starting to complain about the prospect of competing against a publicly sponsored digital network.

The cities involved argue that reliable access to high-speed data is so important to their goals of improving education and advancing economic growth that the project should be seen as no more controversial than the traditional public role in building roads, bridges, sewers and schools - as well as electric power systems, which are often municipally owned in the Western United States.

Data infrastructure "is not a nicety,'' said Paul T. Morris, executive director for the project, which he has named Utopia, a stylized acronym for the Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency. "It's an essential economic growth issue," he added. "The best network in the U.S. will be in Utah - not in New York, not in Chicago, not in Los Angeles."

Its advocates say that Utopia will give participating cities a leg up in attracting sophisticated companies and highly educated, technology-minded individuals. The network is expected to be available to 723,000 residents in 248,000 households and 34,500 businesses. Prices would vary considerably depending on the service, though basic high-speed Internet access is expected to cost about $28 a month.

But private sector competitors and taxpayer groups assert that the cities and their residents face a high level of financial risk for a network that may far exceed their needs. Telephone and cable companies nationwide are scrambling to build networks relying on less expensive, less advanced technology that they argue will be perfectly adequate for many years to come.

[Report continues on website--click on link at top.]

Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 11-17-2003, 05:26 PM:

If this goes like most govt. projects it will come in at about 3 times projected cost. Utah taxpayers, bend over, here it comes. The best possible outcome is that it will, like it says, spur the private sector to do it at lower cost, then spread it to other areas.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-17-2003, 08:23 PM:

Actually Bill, the companies that actually use it will end up paying for it, and it will sure cause our high speed prices to pkummet while gaining anywhere from 10 times to 100 times the normal DSL speed. Some of the cities in the route run tight budgets and may have some surplus to put towards this important innovation. The State Of Utah definately has no "extra" money laying around right now and won't for at least two years for this sort of expenditure. The cities will most likely raise the money through pre-leaasing to ISP's and other institutions that use that sort of thing. Thank god the phone company is not in on this one for achange and I look foreword to getting the new service when it becomes available. BTW: The initial phases of the installation has already begun. Also, there are more computers in use in homes and schools in Utah than any other state [thumbsup]

!!
Mark

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 11-17-2003, 09:30 PM:

Also, there are more computers in use in homes and schools in Utah than any other state

Well that's no big surprise. After all, the killer ap for high speed streaming video is the same as it was for the VCR. [Big Grin]

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 11-18-2003, 01:51 AM:

By the time it gets built and the 5000 person beaurocracy created to support it that $29. fee will be $79. Then they will add taxes to it just like your phone bill. The problem with the government providing services that seem cheap is that they are only because non users are forced to subsidize your service with their taxes. Necessary things like schools, water, etc. yes, but this service is not a necessity and can be provided without further burdening the already overtaxed populace.

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 11-19-2003, 07:03 AM:

5000 person beaurocrocy to control it? You are saying that half of the states employees would have to be moved to internet control?

I somehow doubt that it will take that many people to run the thing. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am insane.

Where do I apply for one of those jobs?

Dave

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 12-02-2003, 05:10 AM:

This isn't exactly something new. The utility companies in Ontario have been developing a ('kick ass') fibre network for some years now.

Currently they only cater to institutions, government, business and large multi-dwelling properties due to the low cost highspeed offerings from cable and telco companies (along with private ISPs utilizing telco DSL facilities).

http://www.fibrewired.com/