[sllug-members]: How to get UTOPIA

[David B]

> What does that cost (you and the city of Centerville)?
>
>   
I am no expert but I think these cities cooperate with dynamic city (a 
bunch of attorneys) that created a framework for cites to do fiber to 
the home (utopia). So yes utopia/dynamic city makes money.

It was at the Provo city council meetings or orem city council meetings 
that they mentioned the cost is around $2000+ per house that gets hooked 
up.  ( lightning edge equipment + laying fiber through yards).  These 
cities are taking out loans that are backed by tax payers. So until the 
money is gone, it wont cost anything, because its a loan/bond.  Eg the 
Orem utopia push was around 80 million to pull it off. If you think Orem 
will get enough subscribers to break even on 80 million loan,  you  are 
very very  optimistic (no chance in hell they will break even on that 
loan).

One reason cities have trouble is that Comcast and Qwest do every thing 
they can to stop Utopia. Eg Qwest started a legal battle with Spanish 
fork and stopped cities from being able to directly sell broadband, 
Qwest also bribed cities to not sign up for Utopia in exchange for VDSL 
(50mbit to the home).  Qwest is spending tons on advertising right now. 
You can buy comcast 8meg Internet for $24 a month in Spanish fork 
city(competeing with spanish fork city broadband). You see lots of door 
to door comcast salesman hammering away at the Orem utopia 
neighborhoods. I even talked to some of comcast door to door salesmen, 
and they said that was why they were giving away $19 for the first year 
was to stop orem Utopia.