I agree, Utopia had severe issues. That is what I am trying to learn from and avoid.
-----Original Message----- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:30 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Brigham City was a disaster. I went up at the request of the city council several times to see if we could fix the problem. UTOPIA told BC that they owned all the OSP and it didn't matter that the city had paid off the debt they did not have control over the fiber. It was worse in Perry. There was duct everywhere but no fiber. The city had paid for the duct. UTOPIA still claimed total ownership and would not let me put fiber in that duct. -----Original Message----- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:27 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Chuck, I know very little at the moment, but am investigating the possibility. I do know Utoptia did something similar in Brigham City I think, and there might be a new example in Idaho, just waiting on particulars. I also have another interesting funding example I am pursuing in one neighborhood, but can't talk about it until it succeeds or fails. -----Original Message----- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:24 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment No, but tell me more... please! -----Original Message----- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:21 AM To: 'af@afmug.com' Subject: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
