More from the article...

... As we've noted over the years, regional monopolies like Qwest (now Centurylink or Lumen) didn't much like that. They desperately tried to sue and harass the network out of existence in the early aughts, claiming the concept violated numerous local laws (it didn't). These efforts failed, in part, because of widespread support among a public extremely tired of being ripped off by [less than optimum] monopolies.

Two decades later and the coalition just announced that 18 different ISPs now compete for Utah resident attention over a network that now covers 21 different Utah cities. In many instances, ISPs on the network are offering symmetrical (uncapped) gigabit fiber for as little as $45 a month (plus $30 network connection fee, so $75). Some ISPs are even offering symmetrical 10 Gbps fiber for around $150 a month...

I note that here when DSL first appeared as an alternative to 33kbps modems, the DSL service provides provided a carrier service, not the product.

I could choose among several "products" on that DSL service.

What is occurring in Utah seems to be a reflection of that, with the addition of my opinion that competition is good.

@#3 ... Mormons need high band-width to keep track of their multiple wives. ...

Maybe, maybe not.

But if they choose to need that high band-width service, it is available to them cheaply, thanks to the local governments bypassing the major ISPs.