By Michael J. Jewkes

“By 2023, Google Fiber will be available to everyone in the city.” Mayor Trent Staggs said in an interview following his second swearing in as mayor of Riverton City. 

Introducing broadband infrastructure to the city has been one of the flagship accomplishments of Mayor Trent Staggs’ first term as mayor. Lobbying for an agreement with Google to construct fiber optic cables in the city will bring new revenue to the city and continue the mayor and city council’s pattern of lowering expenses and raising revenue for the city. “2% of revenue from google fiber goes to the city.” Staggs said regarding the new project. 

In Riverton City Council’s final meeting of 2021, the resolution to approve an agreement with Google Fiber and the city of Riverton City Council’s final meeting of 2021, the resolution to approve an agreement with Google Fiber and the city of Riverton was brought before the council. 

Jacob Brace, from Google Fiber Utah, was optimistic about quick completion of the project saying, “the process is 6 to 8 months,” and “construction would begin in quarter 3 and 4 with the complete build out in 2023.” Upon request from Councilmember Sheldon Stewart to begin construction in areas of the city with worse connection, Grace responded positively. Brace says he aims to work with staff to, “address areas of the city that may be struggling with connection.” The resolution to approve the construction of Google Fiber throughout the city was passed unanimously by the Riverton City Council, 4-0. 

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Riverton City would be providing $1.2 million for the Google Fiber project. The city is spending $1.2 million from federal COVID relief funds on a fiber project to connect city-owned facilities, but that project is not related to the installation of Google Fiber.