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Council hears broadband grant timing and options as private firms express interest
Summary
Councilors reported a statewide broadband meeting and a December grant application deadline; vendors have expressed interest to install fiber, and town officials discussed ownership models and permitting challenges.
Wallsburg Town Council received an update on broadband and fiber‑internet grant opportunities during the Sept. 5 meeting and heard that the state had a Dec. 1 application deadline for a broadband grant round.
Council member Scott Larson attended a statewide broadband meeting and told the council a party other than Utah Broadband appears to have filed a grant application to place fiber into Wallsburg. Larson said several vendors offered to assist with design and build and suggested the council consider whether the town should own fiber infrastructure and lease capacity to internet service providers to preserve competition.
Larson also flagged permitting as a principal obstacle to getting fiber in the ground and said some communities negotiate shared right‑of‑way or conduit access to reduce dependence on incumbent carriers. He said the funding likely will be available through 2026, but applications for the initial round have an earlier submission deadline.
No formal action was taken; the council asked staff to continue engagement with potential vendors and to seek information on permit requirements and competitive models.
