UTOPIA Receives Cornerstone Award from Broadband Properties

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA; http://www.utopianet.org) received the 2010 Cornerstone Award last week from Broadband Properties Magazine. The awards, presented annually, recognize achievements and deployment of fiber-to-the-premises in the United States and abroad. These networks include a variety of private development, municipalities, communities, companies and individuals that have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in delivering telecommunications to benefit the end user. A distinguished committee of industry leaders, analysts and writers selected UTOPIA for the award.

“This award means a great deal,” says Scott DeGarmo, president and CEO of Broadband Properties, “because, since its inception, UTOPIA has had an iconic status for those who believe in fiber-to-the-premises. More than any other project here or abroad, it represents the aspirations of numerous individuals and organizations. We’re pleased to bestow this award in recognition of your extraordinary performance in taking on the challenges of UTOPIA and producing admirable results.”

“We couldn’t be happier about this award. Of course we’re thrilled about what we’ve been able to accomplish over the last two years – and to have that recognized,” says Todd Marriott, UTOPIA’s executive director. “But what’s really exciting is to have the network recognized for what it is: a truly visionary effort by these cities to create an open access, 100% fiber network for the benefit of their communities. UTOPIA’s been doing for years what Google and others are stepping up to encourage now, and we’re going to continue to forge a path that will hopefully inspire others to build this needed open access infrastructure.”

The award was presented at a Summit co-hosted by the Fiber-to-the-Home Council held on April 27, 2010. Past recipients include Corning, for innovation in the fiber development and deployment; Hagslund Telekom, in Oslo, Norway, for open access strategies; and Tim Nulty, of ValleyFiber in Vermont, for helping two dozen communities achieve true broadband in a shared, fiber-to-the-premises network.

CONTACT:

UTOPIA
Elizabeth Vincent, 801-613-3837
evincent@utopianet.org

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Utah

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Internet  Networks  Telecommunications

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