What can we learn from the Cooperative Utopia Fiber?

Yes, Utopia Fiber is a cooperative. Too many legislators seem to think that we do not have choices other than the incumbent ISP. Because of this, we do have many concerns that the bulk of federal money to expand broadband Internet access will go to the incumbent ISP’s who created the digital divide. Utopia Fiber is a cooperative organization that provides fiber-optic internet services to communities across Utah. The cooperative was formed in 2002 to provide high-speed internet connectivity to residents of underserved areas of the state, and has since grown to serve a significant portion of the state’s population. By pooling resources and working together, Utopia Fiber’s member communities are able to build and operate their own fiber-optic networks, which in turn provide faster, more reliable internet access to their residents. So how can communities collaborate with each other to emulate this process in other states? If this sounds intriguing to you and members of your community, we encourage you to join our group Funding Cooperatives and join the discussion to let us know how we can work together to help each other.

UTOPIA Fiber is a community-owned fiber optic network created by a group of Utah cities that supports open-access and promotes competition in all telecommunication services. Because we are an open-access municipal broadband network, we do not (and cannot) provide Internet services. Instead, we provide the fiber and infrastructure and allow customers to choose from a variety of net-neutral service providers on our network. With UTOPIA Fiber, you’re never locked into just one Internet Service Provider (ISP). You can get a fiber optic connection while still choosing the ISP and services you want.

Utopia Fiber website

On May 23, 2023 the city council in Bountiful, Utah, voted unanimously to approve the building of a city, owned fiber net work by utopia fiber.

The open access fiber infrastructure will be owned by the city but operated by UTOPIA Fiber, which will then lease the fiber to internet service providers. City council members expressed their resounding support for the program. We believe that the estimates of take rates are conservative and reasonable when compared to like communities, said City Manager Gary Hill, pointing to neighboring town Centerville that has 49 percent take rate on its city-owned network.

Broadband Breakfast

How big is Utopia Fiber?

UTOPIA Fiber, an open access network provider operating in the Western U.S., disclosed Wednesday it’s reached 55,000 subscribers. The updated count comes after UTOPIA revealed it added more than 20,000 gigabit customers in 2022.

Fierce Telecom

Electrical Coops and Community ISPs

1930’s era poster

In the 1930s cooperatives brought electricity to the farmland when for-profit investor owned utilities, kept their services for the wealthy in big cities. You should also read our post:
History of why electrical, co-ops, and community ISPs should cooperate

So how can we impact legislation to support cooperatives?

ANSWER: add amendments to legislation

In the video below, Dwayne Douglas of Quilt talks with Dr. Ron Suarez, Broadband Institute, about his trip to Springfield, the capital of Illinois, and what he learned about how the lobbyists impact legislation. There are lessons to be learned here. Learn about how getting one person to add an amendment can have a huge impact. In addition, we need short talking points, and a strategy to inform legislators how #OpenAccess is needed to promote #DigitalEquity. Let’s make the Internet become Open Access in the same way that the interstate highway system is #OpenAccess to FedEx, UPS, the US Postal Service, and anyone else, wishing to engage in commerce.