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Comcast, Centurylink Fail To Derail Community-Owned Gigabit Fiber Network In Bountiful, Utah (www.techdirt.com)

submitted 1 year ago by trashhalo@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The city of Bountiful, Utah voted to build a $48 million fiber network to provide affordable gigabit broadband for its residents and businesses. Regional internet providers Comcast and CenturyLink opposed the plan and tried to force a public vote through a taxpayer group they fund. However, communities often build their own networks because existing options are inadequate. Data shows that community-owned networks provide better, faster, cheaper service than monopolies. While big internet providers claim community networks are a boondoggle, they are just another business plan that often succeeds due to quality proposals and local accountability. Comcast and CenturyLink did not want to provide the high-speed internet Bountiful needed, but also tried to block the city from doing so itself.

You love to see it. Do you have community Internet available where you live?

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[–] rmuk@feddit.uk 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Huh. It's tricky, isn't it?

Suggestion: Business laws preclude collusion between competitive businesses. Result: "No, Senator, even though our companies sell the same items made in the same factories with the same SKUs, for the purposes of this conversation we target different markets even though our own sales data proves this isn't the case."

Suggestion: CEOs must sacrifice a child every time they make an acquisition. Result: "CEO of Globoco announces acquisition of struggling orphanage."

Suggestion: Airtight laws that force everyone to play fair and pay their way. Result: Billionaires give handjobs to politicians and get the law neutered in return.