SALT LAKE CITY – Mayors from six cities announced plans Wednesday to put a question regarding internet service as a utility on the ballot in November.
The UTOPIA project began about 10 years ago as a way to offer high speed internet in eleven cities, but high costs and low sign up numbers have meant the network has never functioned at the rate it was intended to.
Mayors from Brigham City, Layton, Midvale, Perry, Tremonton and West Valley City plan to give voters in their cities the option to vote in November to pay for the service as a utility. The move would be part of a deal with a venture capital firm seeking to take over the network.
Five other cities–Centerville, Lindon, Murray, Orem and Payson–have all so-far opted out of the deal.
Related story: Utah Taxpayers Association questions legality of UTOPIA deal
