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 in the Post Independent