You're surprised the government doesn't waste? What did you do with Chuck?
On Fri, Apr 26, 2024 at 6:38 PM <ch...@go-mtc.com> wrote: > I am surprised they have never broke even. > > > > *From:* Josh Luthman > *Sent:* Friday, April 26, 2024 4:02 PM > *To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group > *Cc:* John Brewer ; ch...@go-mtc.com > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] ***SPAM*** Govt funded fiber - Utopia > > Article: > https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/04/19/government-internet-service-bad-for-taxpayers/ > > On Fri, Apr 26, 2024 at 4:59 PM Chuck McCown via AF <af@af.afmug.com> > wrote: > >> By John Dougall >> >> For the Deseret News >> >> Most Utahns probably agree that government should stick to essential >> government services and stay out of enterprises that are better performed >> by >> the private sector. >> >> Yet, across the country and right here in Utah, more and more governments >> are building government-owned internet networks, despite numerous >> private-sector providers being available. >> >> The number of government-owned networks is increasing by the day, and >> taxpayers, not users, are often footing the bill. Government-owned >> broadband >> networks cost millions of dollars and divert essential funding away from >> services that really matter to the public — services such as police and >> fire, roads, water and sewer. >> >> Two unfortunate examples of government-owned broadband networks right >> here >> in Utah are iProvo and UTOPIA. >> >> In 2004, Provo launched iProvo to provide broadband internet services to >> homes and business. Provo reportedly bonded for $36.5 million to bring >> service to every home in the city and wrote off $5.4 million that the >> city’s >> telecommunications fund owed the Energy Department’s reserve fund to >> finance >> the costly deployment. After struggling to make the network viable, >> iProvo >> was sold in 2008. But its buyer failed to fulfill the terms of the sale, >> and >> iProvo reverted back to the city. In 2013, in a desperate attempt to free >> itself of the failed venture, the city ultimately sold iProvo to Google >> for >> $1. >> >> Similarly, UTOPIA (Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency) >> was >> launched to provide broadband internet services to a consortium of >> cities. >> But UTOPIA has failed to fulfill its promises for more than two decades >> now. >> The project, which started in 2002, was projected to be finished in three >> to >> four years. Fast forward to today, and it is still incomplete. Not only >> is >> UTOPIA incomplete, but the project has racked up $300 million worth of >> debt. >> And despite iProvo’s example of failure, UTOPIA continues to expand. >> >> For years, UTOPIA consistently lost money, expecting taxpayers to cover >> those losses. In addition to this, the government-owned network continues >> to >> expand and pull other cities into this trap. What’s more egregious is >> that >> UTOPIA misrepresented its performance as it pitched cities on buying into >> the expansion fever. For example, UTOPIA once claimed the network had “no >> cost to taxpayers since 2009.” This statement was patently inaccurate. >> >> As your watchdog, I help you to hold your government accountable. My >> office >> investigated this and other claims, then we wrote a letter identifying >> these >> inaccurate statements. We instructed UTOPIA to do the following: >> >> •Discard or destroy marketing materials with misleading statements. >> >> • Ensure future communications more accurately reflect the dependence on >> taxpayer support. >> >> •Take steps to remedy the misrepresentations regarding the lack of >> taxpayer >> support to any individual or entity that received the inaccurate >> information. >> >> UTOPIA’s shortcomings do not stop there, however. Rather than providing >> internet access to the more than 40,000 homes and small businesses that >> lack >> internet access today, UTOPIA, like other government-owned networks, >> builds >> redundant networks that compete with existing private providers, many who >> are also regulated by the cities in which they operate. >> >> Unfortunately, iProvo and UTOPIA are no different from other >> government-owned fiber networks across the country, which fail >> financially >> about 90% of the time. >> >> When taxpayer money is being diverted from critical services into pet >> broadband projects, that money is not going where it is needed most. >> Taxpayers expect government to maintain roads, provide safe drinking >> water >> and keep their communities safe. Money spent propping up broadband >> services >> costs taxpayers money, encumbered by decades of debt, and deprives them >> of >> important and sufficient government services they want and deserve. Plus, >> higher taxes burden families, many of whom are struggling today just to >> provide for themselves. >> >> Government-owned broadband has done enough harm to taxpayers. iProvo and >> UTOPIA should be seen as an example for policymakers of what to avoid. >> Public officials across the country, and especially here in Utah, should >> resist the appealing allure of expanding or deploying government-owned >> networks, which allure has been shown to be deceptive, and ultimately >> destructive, to taxpayers. >> >> John Dougall is the Utah State Auditor and is a candidate for Utah’s 3rd >> congressional district. >> >> >> >> -- >> AF mailing list >> AF@af.afmug.com >> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >> >
-- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
