The Provo City Council approved the bonding package for iProvo, an ambitious fiber to the home project. There's an article by Arthur Brady on UtahPolitics.org about the council meeting.

To me, the choice is as important and momentous as the decision to create and interstate highway system in the 1950's. The railroads were monopolies and were only too happy to carry people's goods, but on the railroad's terms. The interstate highway system changed that. Before the 1950's, long haul transportation was solely the domain of the railroads. Now anyone with a little capital can start a transportation company (just buy a truck).

The current situation in last mile connectivity is very similar. Comcast and Qwest are all too happy to carry your data, but only on their terms. Qwest is almost paternalistic: we'll decide how much bandwidth you need and give it to you when you're ready. Networks like iProvo have the promise to change that. My fear is that they'll emulate their closed cousins and place unneeded and stifling restrictions that will limit their ability to provide a breeding ground for broadband innovation.

In any event, I'm happy to see iProvo going forward and hope for similar success for Utopia.