Judge holds off on decision for fiber optic network

Ammon city leaders met with a Bonneville Conty judge Thursday morning, asking for permission to move forward with their Fiber Optic network proposal.

This would be one of the first fiber optic systems in the United States to be operated as a municipal utility.

City leaders have been working on the proposal since 2008.

“We’re asking the judge to rule on a new financing mechanism that we designed that would allow the citizens of Ammon a choice,”Brian Powell said, the Ammon City Council president.

“That ‘new financing mechanism’ is a bond. What makes it different than normal bonds is instead of all taxpayers paying for it, only those who option into the network will pay for it,” Kirkham said.

However, the judge did not come to a decision on the subject and ruled for a recess.

Ammon Mayor Dana Kirkham said this hearing played a significant role in the process.

“It is what allows us to move forward with the bonding mechanism, and we’re looking at an opt-in, a local injection and detection so in other words, we want our citizens to have a choice. We don’t want anyone to forced into this,” Kirkham said.

Kirkham said there’s many benefits to having a fiber-optic internet network.

“We are looking at public safety first, being able to respond quicker for people to be connected all the time. That’s what will make our city safer,” Kirkham said.

Kirkham said she’s not worried about competing with private enterprise.

“The beauty of our network comes with open access and that will foster positive competition,” Kirkham said.

A new hearing date has not been set yet.