Letter: Golden State Fiber is no boondoggle

Johnny Kampis’ op-ed casts open-access municipal broadband in a negative light while implicitly defending a telecom monopoly model that has failed rural Californians.

Approximately 26.5% of rural California households lack access to high-speed broadband. Geographic barriers and limited profit potential have long discouraged private internet service providers from these areas, thus necessitating public investment.

In response, forty rural counties formed the Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) to leverage state and federal funding to connect unserved and underserved California communities. This year, GSCA will begin construction on Golden State Fiber, an open-access municipal fiber network it will operate in partnership with UTOPIA Fiber. This project leverages public funding with $110.9 million in private bond financing, repaid by future revenues, posing no risk to taxpayers. 

Open-access networks are a proven model that provides choice to consumers by allowing multiple providers to use the same infrastructure. With fiber availability to over 250,000 businesses and residences in 50+ communities, UTOPIA Fiber is the largest and most successful open access network in the nation and has one of the highest customer satisfaction scores. UTOPIA Fiber has successfully financed, designed, built, and operated more than $700 million in fiber infrastructure projects across Utah and the western U.S. at no cost to taxpayers. 

Overall, Golden State Fiber represents a sound, long-overdue investment in rural California’s economic future, restoring choice and connectivity where private telecom providers have failed.

David Griffith is an Alpine County Supervisor and Vice Chair of the Golden State Connect Authority