UTOPIA: Creating True Free Market Competition In Communications
I’m usually pretty open to admitting I’m wrong about things I’ve written on this site. I was a big booster of the Iraq invasion when it started and eventually, after being smacked down by Ed and a couple others who left comments, I came to see what a huge mistake that was. It is time again for me to use this blog to publicly correct my position on an issue and change my course.
I’ve made several posts on this site critical of UTOPIA and other public efforts to create new communications networks. I was wrong. Jesse has a great post summarizing the history of telecommunications and the terrible mess our government has made of things. I highly recommend that anyone interested in this issue check out the linked post above and FreeUTOPIA.Org. A lot of political forces are aligned against UTOPIA and that is unfortunate because it seems to be the only possible chance for Utah to break out of the current mess.
UTOPIA is not just a cool gadget that local governments are promising residents or an effort on the part of those governments to get involved in providing phone/cable/internet services. It is an effort to create an environment where real competition exists between providers of communications services on a completely new and neutral network not controlled by the regional telephone companies that for decades have bribed, threatened and sued anyone threatening their dominance. The current communications market is anything but free. Qwest and its counterparts in other areas of the country own congressmen, senators and whole state legislatures that they’ve paid dearly for in an effort to defend their government granted monopoly. It is time for an end to the status quo.
UTOPIA and other local municipal broadband efforts should be applauded and supported by those who claim to believe in the efficacy of free markets.
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Your link to Jesse’s blog is broken.
What is the current mess you write of in the second paragraph?
Comment by Daniel — February 5, 2008 @ 7:21 am
Link is fixed.
Check out Jesse’s site for a good synopsis of the mess mentioned. Considering the history of telecom in our country anyone who argues that UTOPIA is worse government involvement than what we already have isn’t arguing from a position of strength.
Comment by Jeremy Manning — February 5, 2008 @ 9:38 am
Here’e the link to Jesse’s post:
http://www.coolestfamilyever.com/2008/02/04/cleaning-up-your-own-messes/#comments
I also loved Jesse’s post. I’ve been lurking on both of his blogs and am slowly converting to the cause. I wasn’t ever against it…more of a telecommunications agnostic who had heard bad things about i-Provo, had tried every internet service available in Provo as a student, and hated Qwest and Comcast. I’m now in Orem and love my internet via UTOPIA.
I have two concerns though. First, how long is it going to take for the competition to drive down prices? Or are there any quality companies out there? I’m with Veracity and they’re OK. They have had some reliability issues, but improved over the past year. I don’t feel I’m getting a smash-up deal for my phone and internet. Their customer service and options are mediocre, which is to say they’re better than Comcast and vast light years better than Qwest. I have heard many complaints about M-Star’s reliability, and the other options, X-mission, and some other company don’t seem to have better prices or service. M-Star is the only one of the bunch that competes with Qwest and Comcast on a triple play option, and the price is a wash. We want to get some TV for this summer and fall: Olympics, election, and football season, and right now I’m leaning towards going back to Comcast…shudder.
Second, I think Rep. Urquhart’s concerns about “cherry picking” seem valid. Is it actually not possible for a service to make profits without focusing on richer neighborhoods? Is UTOPIA in trouble financially or not? I’m becoming more convinced that the infrastructure would be worth an investment of public funds, but still want an honest picture of the challenges facing the project.
Comment by UtahTeacher — February 5, 2008 @ 9:38 am
It took me a long time to realize what UTOPIA was really all about. The news media never explain it clearly and even the UTOPIA website does a lousy job of articulating the great idea they are supposed to be selling.
It would be a shame if opponents succeed in defining UTOPIA as a waste, unnecessary or “unfair” competition with the private sector (i.e. telecoms).
Comment by rmwarnick — February 5, 2008 @ 10:04 am
Dear Friends ,,,, on an unrelated topic that requires our attention….
Recently a friend in our fold brought this “film” to my attention.
Her son apparently was sent this web link from someone.
this is NOT a joke,,,, I’ve been told that some people
question my intentions.
It’s a movie clip (that has been recently released, or is about to,,, I’m not sure),,
anyway, it depicts Mormons as flesh eating ghouls, and it is just awful. www.thebookofzombie.com
PLEASE don’t go to this web site,,, please just make note of it,,,,,
On behalf of myself and my husband, and our Mormon friends,
I would like to make sure that young people are NOT subjected to this terrible conception of true faith.
please let me know if you are able to help.
regards, Betty Toms
Comment by betty — February 5, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
Betty,
Nice effort to promote your film. I approved your comment because the reverse psychology you’re using amuses me.
If this isn’t a clever publicity stunt than Betty…you are failing miserably at what you are trying to do. Please go away.
Comment by Jeremy Manning — February 6, 2008 @ 1:22 am