[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6606275,"mediaKeyId","2966409-a698f846bbed5a8743e1cfd547db077d","parentId",2966409,"title","Public commenter raises privacy and social-credit concerns over broadband; commissioners had already approved support letters","audioSeconds",141,"startMs",1416000,"endMs",1557000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2966409-a698f846bbed5a8743e1cfd547db077d&start=1416&end=1557","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2966409-a698f846bbed5a8743e1cfd547db077d/thumbnail_1416000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606275/Utah/Public-commenter-raises-privacy-and-social-credit-concerns-over-broadband-commissioners-had-already-approved-support-letters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606275-8fd22bc9422029910be76e407bb2d18f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032184&Signature=DSgSyc1Ekzp0ffvVOi-tp7c1XRQztZ1tVRYl7qw2CDG432-lUg-wbIr6ADIVD1MDUC25NJXJHUcb3rqQ4T5yh8-39b66s4q00wHSBMMkB4UJAzr-Gh-MnwlJkLToe1yXWaJPwwabapz0Gi4J-4XdCi-IX-muizPc78JnvjMQIjtiD1QjAu9YAWhc62xBptjdCs6gaCYQ-KeikAzNMOpjC1rC1DBAg12nWYrAhe3zzuubR~kEsyd2wfa1XipBYRiXTe91a3-KAnqD9NAdr2-iJ-epjqZql9Fso6zbvJ9yaxnC49FQ4VuLz2i20GGyxO8VMfwbhDrUFCkdYU~rA9QslA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Box Elder County Commissioners","date","2025-04-09T17:00:00Z","article","During the public-comment period, Hannah Hardy told the commission she opposed broadband and smart-city installations, linking them to increased surveillance and what she described as a social-credit system. Hardy said Utah’s broadband rollout and smart meters threaten privacy and cited national and international organizations by name while urging the commission to intervene.

Hardy’s remarks included direct claims about elected officials and private companies; she asserted that some public officials and their families have financial interests in broadband companies and said that smart devices and meters contribute to privacy violations. Those assertions were made as part of a public comment and were not verified at the meeting. Commissioners did not take formal action in response to the comments during the public-comment period; earlier in the same meeting the commission had voted to approve letters supporting BEAD applications from Comcast and Strata Networks.

Quotes: “Through broadband and smart devices, the Fourth Amendment is being violated,” Hardy said during her remarks. She asked the commission to “help stop the social credit score that is happening through broadband, smart meter devices, and smart cities.”

What the record shows: Hardy’s statements were presented as public comment; they reflect the speaker’s opinions and allegations, and commissioners did not adopt them as findings or take formal policy action in response during this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Box Elder County Commission Meeting ","oneSentenceSummary","A public commenter urged the commission to oppose broadband and smart-city implementations, citing privacy, surveillance and a 'social credit' system; commissioners had earlier approved letters supporting BEAD applications for Comcast and Strata Networks.","taxTitle","Box Elder County Commissioners, Box Elder County Boards and Commissions, Box Elder County, Utah","taxId",77700,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606279,"Commissioners table Garland-related property agreements to April 23 pending more information",444,862000,1306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2966409-a698f846bbed5a8743e1cfd547db077d&start=862&end=1306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2966409-a698f846bbed5a8743e1cfd547db077d/thumbnail_862000.jpg","/articles/6606279/Utah/Commissioners-table-Garland-related-property-agreements-to-April-23-pending-more-information","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606279-4d37571c81bc3d0edfdc6e70724e4fab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032184&Signature=chEbiOuNOzsyfj9oz0dxk-YerT7~EJEBX8Q1DJrjymqEuOr9pAOh0775g9rAQAw5xM5WXH9pTjkNmk80QZ8pcKuwJ3EH7b1Tvav0m1Xm9KEkrdviQ3K9qDqHYREgcwCnIKKGx1aOA6VonnPUa61kWwIRDCujoEFA7~NjuGYcX3zgSdnMPjDCiwhBldN3m31Ek2JFWDMaC~LpNmOan92LkKNN9BRfDBFGerOsjdMZY28iQfX3iSsURBX-eUpq2Ody2MTMpdKsD0ClOOm7tq0-cwYBRb5nhe~wVY4bsJGftgTdLhOKMOEKw4VUiZsk48qzTpu33Z~CjxMf9IzKvhLMsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Box Elder County Commissioners voted to table two agreements tied to properties on the outskirts of Garland City until the April 23 meeting so staff can gather more information and contact affected property owners. The agreements had previously expired after an attempted annexation failed and an annexation board found the prior process was handled improperly.

County staff described the situation as follows: the properties are connected to Garland City water, have partial development, and had agreements approved in 2024 that expired when a voluntary annexation attempt failed for procedural reasons. Garland City is updating its annexation code to align with state code and to address island annexations; staff said the update may allow Garland to proceed with island annexations in the future.

Some nearby property owners expressed concern that renewed agreements could increase the economic viability of the two properties, potentially affecting the ownership dynamics of adjacent agricultural land. A commissioner noted the out-of-state property owner could not attend the meeting and asked staff to contact that owner before taking further action. The commission moved, seconded and voted to table the two items and requested a report back on April 23.

What commissioners directed staff to do: contact Garland City planning staff to confirm the city’s annexation code timeline and reach out to the out-of-state property owner identified during public discussion. The commission emphasized the need to balance the interests of businesses seeking to complete construction and adjacent property owners concerned about long-term impacts. No formal approvals on the agreements were made at this meeting.","The commission postponed action on two expired agreements affecting properties on Garland City’s outskirts after staff said Garland is updating annexation rules; commissioners asked staff to contact Garland planners and an out-of-state property owner before the next meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":81,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606284,"Commissioners approve broadband support, agritourism ordinance and fair book contract; several items tabled",797,509000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2966409-a698f846bbed5a8743e1cfd547db077d&start=509&end=1306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2966409-a698f846bbed5a8743e1cfd547db077d/thumbnail_509000.jpg","/articles/6606284/Utah/Commissioners-approve-broadband-support-agritourism-ordinance-and-fair-book-contract-several-items-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606284-333ab3b9b42e6c379ae4317c41d2f05a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032184&Signature=bNKfFx27hrZbqLxDt~ZpEior9xnr6ko5-ttRRGkh1WqM4NtkiZexA0fZ4GQMsEkeJZHzWmNeKJlFJZ5QcD2o-B0nq0stvcZ6t7w1e4VPQW7RLa84ZbeLo2Rf6iPY3kasnIZQzDDJgL1tjvTMzSaCBenoCQFIFuGY6znh2fB8OlUz4F1DmUqNnnewhy~KBje26-zGYz9o8UWJQQVRjZgtcEE5F7rxmbrr3r6V0PL2EO9zy7QDpNJXiz0X5HFzIg8zj~pP6ahGH1XVFkkjooF2NyTjILriPrq8L060d26ne0lHYNL9Et1cudo-fi8U0O~jIrvbS718VCQun0TIaqnBMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Box Elder County Commissioners voted during their regular meeting to approve a letter of support for Comcast and Strata Networks’ applications to Utah’s BEAD broadband program, adopt Ordinance No. 6-20 governing RV facilities for agritourism, and award fair book production to the Box Elder News Journal. The commission also approved minutes, ratified a compensation adjustment for an administrative law judge and appointed members to the county planning commission. Two separate property agreements tied to a Garland City annexation were tabled until the April 23 meeting.

Commissioners said the broadband letters simply acknowledge that the companies may operate in unincorporated Box Elder County and do not obligate county funds. “It does not cost county tax dollars any money whatsoever,” a commissioner said while describing the state and federal reimbursement process for BEAD grant projects. The commission approved a motion to provide letters of support for Comcast and Strata Networks’ BEAD applications; the motion passed unanimously.

Why this matters: BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding is federal money administered by states to expand high-speed internet. County support letters are a routine local step that can help applicants demonstrate local awareness as part of state grant reviews.

On land use, the commission approved Ordinance No. 6-20, which replaces the county’s Chapter 3-6 (mobile home parks) with new standards for RV facilities used for agritourism. Community development staff said the ordinance allows low-density agritourism RV facilities (described in the staff report as roughly one RV site per two acres, up to a five-site maximum) and streamlines permitting but restricts onsite water and septic connections to reduce the risk of lots becoming permanent residences. The ordinance was moved, seconded and approved by the commission.

Procurement and appointments: County staff reported they received a single RFQ response to produce the fair book; the commission awarded the contract to the Box Elder News Journal, which had produced prior editions. The commission also moved to appoint three planning commission members; the motion recorded in the minutes named Ed Pugsley, Melanie Wilder and a person identified only as Jared; the motion passed and the appointments were confirmed.

Other formal actions: The commission ratified Agreement 2522, a compensation adjustment for the county’s administrative law judge identified in meeting discussion as Richard Keaton (the agenda paperwork contained a variant spelling). The commission also approved the meeting minutes from March 26, 2025, at the start of the session.

Items tabled: Two agreements related to properties on Garland City’s outskirts — previously approved but expired after an annexation attempt failed — were tabled to the April 23 meeting so staff can collect more information and contact affected property owners. Commissioners said Garland City is updating annexation code language and that pending code revisions and property-owner concerns merit further review before the county acts.

Votes at a glance: approve minutes (motion carried); ratify Agreement 2522, compensation adjustment for administrative law judge (motion carried); support letters for Comcast and Strata Networks BEAD applications (motion carried); award fair book production to Box Elder News Journal (motion carried); appoint planning commission members (motion carried; names in motion: Ed Pugsley, Melanie Wilder, and Jared); adopt Ordinance No. 6-20 (agr i tourism RV facilities) (motion carried); table items C and D (Garland-related agreements) to April 23 (motion carried).

What’s next: Staff were directed to gather additional information on the Garland-related agreements, contact the out-of-state property owner identified in the discussion and consult Garland City staff before the April 23 meeting. The commission moved into closed session after the public comment period to discuss personnel and legal matters.","Box Elder County Commissioners voted to send letters supporting two BEAD broadband applications, approved an agritourism RV-facility ordinance and awarded the fair book contract; the commission also appointed planning commissioners and tabled two Garland annexation-related agreements until April 23.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenter raises privacy and social-credit concerns over broadband; commissioners had already approved support letters

Commissioners table Garland-related property agreements to April 23 pending more information

Commissioners approve broadband support, agritourism ordinance and fair book contract; several items tabled