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Senate approves telecommunications bill after hours-long debate over municipal financing and state risk
Summary
The Senate passed first substitute Senate Bill 66, a telecommunications measure affecting municipal broadband projects (commonly called Utopia), after extended debate over sales-tax bond authority, municipal entities and state exposure; the measure passed 20–9 and includes intent language limiting state subsidies.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 18 passed first substitute Senate Bill 66, a sweeping telecommunications measure affecting municipal broadband projects commonly referred to as Utopia, after an extended debate about municipal financing, potential state liability and grandfathering for projects already underway.
Senator Mark Hickman, the bill sponsor, said the measure narrows how municipalities may finance broadband projects and preserves a local option for citizens to approve funding through general obligation bonds. Hickman told colleagues the bill ‘‘eliminates . . . financing by…
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