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Local communities across the United States are bypassing traditional internet service providers (ISPs) and cable companies to fund and construct their own broadband networks. This movement has encountered resistance from larger ISPs. One example is Bountiful, Utah, a city of approximately 45,438 residents. When the larger providers showed little interest, the city decided to invest million of local funds to build a fiber network in partnership with Utopia Fiber. The goal was to provide connectivity to every resident in Bountiful.

However, the project faced opposition from a group connected to ISPs Comcast and Centurylink, as reported by Techdirt. Despite this campaign, the effort was ultimately unsuccessful. This case exemplifies the political challenges that communities can encounter when pursuing their own municipal broadband initiatives. Bountiful is not alone in this endeavor, as over 600 communities throughout the country are building their own broadband networks, according to Techdirt.

After a successful vote in May, the Utah Taxpayers Association (UTA) sought to stop the project by gathering signatures on a petition. The UTA has ties to Comcast, as its former chair Jennifer Somers is now an executive for the cable company’s Utah business. However, the UTA does not disclose its members. Comcast did not provide immediate comment when asked about this issue.

Consumer broadband activist Gigi Sohn, in an op-ed for The Salt Lake Tribune, encouraged Bountiful residents to reject the petition. Fortunately, the petition failed to gather enough signatures to halt the project.

If successful, the petition would have delayed the project until March or April 2024, disrupting the approved budget of million. However, the residents of Bountiful did not support Gather Utah’s efforts. Although construction will begin later than expected, Bountiful City remains committed to providing affordable and high-speed fiber broadband to its residents.

The project is expected to take two to three years to complete, with UTOPIA Fiber operating and managing the open-access network. Other ISPs will lease the network from UTOPIA Fiber. Comcast will still have access to this network if customers choose their service, but they will face more competition in Bountiful. This initiative aims to ensure that communities have control over their own broadband infrastructure and are not limited by monopolistic cable companies.

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