Thursday, August 19, 2010

UTOPIA Gets $16M In Broadband Stimulus

West Valley City-based Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA), said today that it has been awarded $16M as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. According to the agency, the funding will go to complete an additional 20% of needed network infrastructure for the effort, and will connect nearly 400 schools, libraries, medical and healthcare providers, public safety entities, community college locations, government offices and other community institutions in parts of Perry, Payson, Midvale, Murray, Centerville, Layton, Orem, and West Valley City to broadband. UTOPIA said it expects the grant to produce over 200 new jobs in the area. UTOPIA is a municipally owned, broadband project which is looking to offer broadband service through fiber-optic connections.