The Farr West Fiber Project
A grass-roots effort to get future-proof internet for LESS.
Why does Farr West need better broadband internet?
What is broadband internet?
Broadband doesn't mean "over-the-top" or excessive internet speeds. Simply put, broadband means having just enough internet speed and reliability to perform modern-day tasks. Modern-day tasks are no longer limited to simple internet browsing and emails. They now include tasks such as video streaming and conferencing, distance/remote education and learning, gaming, picture and video cloud backups, and more. Technology evolves over time, and so internet speeds must evolve to accommodate it. Every 5 years or so, the FCC updates the minimum required speeds that may be called "broadband."
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Broadband internet is one of the most important types of infrastructure. Think about it - the world runs digitally now. We communicate, perform our jobs, and many of us make our livelihoods over the internet. Our school children do their homework with Chromebooks over the internet. The majority of our digital entertainment depends on having reliable internet. Having access to reliable broadband means that Farr West can be competitive in today's housing and commercial economies.
How does Farr West compare to the rest of Utah when it comes to broadband availability?
Farr West is far behind the rest of Utah (and even Weber County) when it comes to broadband availability. According to broadbandnow.com, an online database which tracks broadband availability nationally, over 90% of all Utahns enjoy access to 100Mbps broadband speeds (compared to less than 40% of Farr West residents). Because so many of our existing homes do not have reliable broadband access, it's necessary to build a new network in those locations. In order to help Farr West remain relevant and competitive with our neighboring cities and counties both developmentally and economically, we need to bring our internet infrastructure up to speed.
Existing 100Mbps+ Services in Farr West
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How do we fix the problem?
Farr West conducted a feasibility study from Nov 1st, 2018, to June 6th, 2019, to find all our options to expand broadband availability in the city. Exhaustive research was performed, many meetings were held, and on June 6th the City Council voted unanimously to enter into contract negotiations with Connext to build a new fiber optics network throughout the city in order to address the shortcomings in our current broadband availability.