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

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.