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Utah Cities To Provide High-Speed Net Access
Instarx writes "The New York Times reports that Salt Lake City and other Utah cities plan to install an ultrahigh-speed optical network as a public utility project starting next year. The network would provide internet access [for about $28 per month] in direct competition to slower commercial offerings. 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."
Clicky-clicky
> Sure there are geeks like us that demand high-speed inet, but for the most part, i see people leaving high-speed
;).
> in droves to go back to dialup.
I don't know, i see a lot of relatives with very little computing skills turning to broadband, just because it's easier and faster. They're all in the 50-65 age-range and i'm actually impressed at how far they've come in using the internet (3 years ago it was "can you explain the internet to me", now they do flights, shopping, maps, general info, tv listings, phone, etc. etc. and start asking me about cookies, ssl and such). Since getting braodband they use the internet much more and are generally happier about it...
I also know more and more families who have a network at home with a broad-band connection serving several computers, i think in a few years this will be the norm. I don't personally know anyone who has gone back to dial-up!
Then again, this is Europe (Germany and UK) so it might all be different where you are
Ponxx
Illinois citizens pay the price
These towns better look hard before they leap....
CMDRTACO CHECK YOUR EMAIL!
I live in utah. The reason I think that this is a good idea AND not missing the mark is:
1-utah has a growing IT population and ANY improvement to public access will improve business access like a chain reaction. both from quality and price.
2-We have broadband here and it is OK but I know a lot of non techies that would purchase more if they could.
3-I hate the RIAA and MPAA so this is only better for file swapping.
Well, now I am also going to admit that life would still go on w/o this but I think and public information access projects is the only way to counter todays "anti-terrorist=anti-citizen" laws that govern information flow.
These are all for the USA -
From April 2003: Broadband adoption races ahead in US
A little older, 2002: More consumers hooked on broadband
I think you get the idea...
Okay, ha ha... we are all a bunch of amish here. Whatever! Is there a market here for movies w/ the violence and swearing taken out? Sure. Can you still get the other R rated films as well. Yes. Would they force people to use censor'd net if they did have it? No. If anything they would just provide it as an option, which I am sure some people would appreciate, but you could still get the raw full of pr0n feed if you wanted it.
Given that Salt Lake City (where I live and work) is in a budget crunch like most everywhere else, I can't see where the money will come from to lay fiber everywhere. The cost of DSL is about $50 a month for 640down/256up, $40 for 256/256, and Comcast cable costs about $45 (without cable TV). While most peole I work with have DSL or cable, I don't see the masses demanding high speed.
There was another compnay based in American Fork (next to Lindon and SCO) that was a startup and was trying to implement something similar, but eventually found out the cost was just too high and not enough people were willing to pay for it.
Fiber could be laid to neighborhoods and then branch copper off from there to the actual homes, but even that's going to cost a bunch, not to talk about the maintenance.
And only $470 million to lay fiber directly to 248,000 homes? To me that sounds like an underestimate. What about the network equipment and customer support and..... to support those 248,000 homes?
you can read more about the project at their (unfinished website): utopianet.org It's mostly empty, but there is a list of cities and a good FAQ
There are some minor problems. Technically, the staff of the city network need to gain a little experience. But overall, it has been a pleasant experience and I recommend it to everyone else.
It's about time the rest of the state catches up to us. Heck, we're just a little ol' cowboy town that barely knows how to find the 'on' button for our com-poot-urs.
H0ek
Think you're smart? Prove you've got brains!
Restaurants are a luxury, not a utility. Cities traditionally provide utilities (or help to provide utilities) for their residents.
--TheOrangeSquid Is it any wonder things seem so awry? We swim in a sea of confusion and don't have to think to survive
I had broadband. I cancelled it a few months ago. Last week, I got it back and killed my landline instead and it's all because of money.
Dialup requirements:
Local phone service - $20/month plus 10c per call is approx. $35
Long Distance - approx. $15 at 5c a minute
ISP - $15/month TOTAL: $65
Broadband:
Cable internet access: $41/month
And that's it. I couldn't believe I was actually paying more for dialup when I did the math. Now I use my cell for calls. I have fewer bills to pay and don't now feel like I'm getting hosed.
Triv
It may be true of Eagle Mountain as well, but I was specifically referring to Spanish Fork. Spanish Fork originally built their own infrastructure becuase no private company thought it would be profitable to build it themselves. As it turned out, the number of subscribers has been so significant that several private companies have offered to buy the network from the city.