It isn’t easy being a telco, at least that’s what more cities are finding out.
Colorado’s Glenwood Springs has approached both Qwest and Comcast in a bid to partner up with either one to help expand the community’s money losing fiber network. Neither exactly jumped for joy—or at the chance for a public/private enterprise.
For it’s part, the city says national telecos are deliberately working against community networks. But the six-year-old network has lost $200,000 a year for the past three years and only reached some local businesses. The city wants to spend another $12 million to reach home and offer VoIP, Internet and video services. Critics are concerned the network couldn’t compete with the big boys and worry the city is looking at a $12 million boondoggle that the local citizenry will end up paying for.
Have these guys tried calling anyone in Provo yet?
For more:
- See the story [1] in the Post Independent
Related articles:
Provo officials worry Broadweave doesn't have what it takes Broadweave report [1]
Broadweave to acquire embattled iProvo Broadweave report [2]
iProvo and fellow Utah fiber network Utopia having tough times iProvo report [3]
City gets 'brutal' with iProvo iProvo report [4]
Links:
[1] http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080602/VALLEYNEWS/624766601
[2] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/broadweave-to-acquire-embattled-iprovo/2008-05-07
[3] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/utopia-has-high-price-for-member-cities-users/2008-04-21
[4] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/provo-committee-gets-brutal-with-iprovo/2008-04-29