Utah State Auditor in Deseret News: Government-owned internet networks hurt taxpayers

Missed our event in St. George on 9/28?

Former Speaker of Utah House Greg Hughes appeared on the “Political as Heck Utah” podcast to discuss his role in the NoGovInternet Campaign. In part, Hughes said, “It’s a 501(c)(4) campaign meant to really educate people because a lot of times when UTOPIA or one of these companies comes to a city council, which have constituents who would like better service, the version of life that they’re giving—there is a lot more to the story. At least more details and information that the public, and even those mayors and city council members ought to be aware of before making a big decision to get into debt and get into that lane as a city to provide internet infrastructure.” Listen to the full discussion starting at the 4:35 mark here .

Utah State Auditor John Dougall penned an op-ed for the Deseret News, calling out the harm that government-owned internet has inflicted on taxpayers in his state. In the op-ed, Dougall wrote, "The number of government-owned networks is increasing by the day, and taxpayers, not users, are often footing the bill. Government-owned broadband networks cost millions of dollars and divert essential funding away from services that really matter to the public — services such as police and fire, roads, water and sewer... Public officials across the country, and especially here in Utah, should resist the appealing allure of expanding or deploying government-owned networks, which allure has been shown to be deceptive, and ultimately destructive, to taxpayers." Read the auditor's full commentary here .

NoGovInternet leader and former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes recently penned an op-ed for Deseret News, “Is government control of our internet a good idea?” Among other points in the column, Hughes wrote, “Never once, in over 20 years in the public square, did I meet a single Utahn who asked or demanded that any government, from the state down to the city level, take control of internet infrastructure.” Read the full op-ed here .

NoGovInternet.com Campaign, a project of the Domestic Policy Caucus, launched a video ad, “Stay In Your Lane,” on cable TV to inform Utahns about the folly of government running and owning the internet. Watch the ad here .

In a press release, NoGovInternet.com announced the launch of a statewide campaign to oppose the expansion of government-owned broadband networks. NoGovInternet.com launched this campaign on TV and radio. It will continue to inform and educate Utahns, including outreach via digital ads, direct mail, and other multi-channel communications. When the government owns and operates your broadband network, it controls the backbone of the internet. Putting local government in control of the speed and flow of information and personal data of its citizens poses real threats to personal freedoms and liberties, and it puts taxpayer dollars at risk. Nearly 80% of Utah’s residents are seeing their quality of life decrease while their cost of living increases. Utah cities are struggling every day to address population growth in urban and suburban areas while rural Utah continues to struggle to stay afloat with shrinking opportunities and population. Local government serves citizens best when focusing on growth-related issues such as traffic congestion, scarce water resources, crime, and public safety. Government should smartly partner with the private sector, but when government chooses to compete with, or worse, replace the private sector, it can be catastrophic for generations. The failed experiments of iProvo and UTOPIA are Utah’s case studies for cities that have veered too far from their core duties and the proper role of government. UTOPIA is a union of city governments that have taxpayers foot the bill, putting public dollars at risk. They do this while competing with and replacing services from private providers. Former Speaker of the House Greg Hughes will be spearheading this important effort, delivering the information, and opening the black box behind Utah’s government takeover of broadband networks. “I’ve spent over 15 years in public service and have campaigned for office ten times. I have never met a single person who said they wanted the government to own and control their internet service,” Hughes said. “I look forward to getting good information that drives good decisions to city leaders, thought leaders, the media, and the taxpayers of Utah. If we see the day when cities have conquered the challenges of growth, water, parks, public safety, and other pressing core duties, they still should not become ‘entrepreneurs’ with their constituents’ tax dollars.” The Domestic Policy Caucus encourages everyone to join the campaign at www.NoGovInternet.com . View NoGovInternet.com’s first television ad: “ Not What They Do ”

A new TV ad is running in Utah, criticizing government-run internet providers. The ads are part of a $1 million blitz to warn about problems associated with municipal internet systems, including high costs and a lack of regulatory oversight. The Domestic Policy Caucus is running them under the name NoGovInternet.com. Watch and read the full story here .