PRESS RELEASE: Speaker Mike Schultz Receives “Friend of Transparency Award”

August 20, 2025

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SALT LAKE CITY – August 20, 2025 – NoGovInternet and the Utah Taxpayers Association jointly presented Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz with the “Friend of Transparency Award” this week in recognition of his support of SB 165, legislation designed to protect taxpayers and strengthen transparency in local government.


[See photo: Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz (center) receives the “Friend of Transparency” Award from Utah Taxpayers Association President Billy Hesterman (left) and NoGovInternet Spokesman Greg Hughes (right).]


SB 165, passed during the 2025 General Legislative Session, sets new disclosure and bonding standards for cities that want to build and operate their own taxpayer-funded broadband networks. The law ensures that residents receive timely, accurate information and have a clear understanding of the financial risks before public dollars are committed to major infrastructure projects.


“We’re grateful for Speaker Schultz’s steady support throughout the process,” said Greg Hughes, spokesman for NoGovInternet. “Our role was to educate and provide context, and Speaker Schultz made sure this important transparency measure received the attention it deserved. His support reinforced that taxpayers’ voices matter in decisions about major public investments.”


“SB165 gives Utah families more visibility into how their tax dollars are prioritized and spent,” Hughes added. “We appreciate that Speaker Schultz embraces the principles of transparency and accountability which helped elevate the importance that this bill pass and be signed into law.”

“Speaker Schultz has always stood with Utah families when it comes to protecting their hard-earned tax dollars,” said Billy Hesterman, President of the Utah Taxpayers Association. “His support of SB 165 ensures that when cities consider major new projects, the public gets a clear view of the costs and long-term impact. That kind of transparency empowers communities and helps build trust in the decisions being made on their behalf.”



The “Friend of Transparency” Award was created by NoGovInternet and the Utah Taxpayers Association in March 2025 to honor elected officials who demonstrate a strong commitment to open government, public accountability, and the protection of taxpayer interests.

PRESS RELEASE: Senator Chris Wilson Receives “Friend of Transparency Award”

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate President Stuart Adamns Receives “Friend of Transparency Award”

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PRESS RELEASE: Representative Ryan Wilcox Receives “Friend of Transparency Award”

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PRESS RELEASE: State Representative Casey Snider Receives “Friend of Transparency Award”

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PRESS RELEASE: State Sen. Lincoln Fillmore Receives “Friend of Transparency Award”

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Letter to the Editor: Should local governments in Southern Utah bond for broadband?

October 10, 2024
No Gov Internet Spokesperson penned an op-ed for the St. George News. The letter asks a critical question: should we risk millions of taxpayer dollars on a venture that could compromise essential public services?

ICYMI: St. George Event Recap

October 4, 2024
Missed our event in St. George on 9/28?

NoGovInternet Appears on “Political as Heck Utah” Podcast

June 4, 2024
Former Speaker of Utah House Greg Hughes appeared on the “Political as Heck Utah” podcast to discuss his role in the NoGovInternet Campaign. In part, Hughes said, “It’s a 501(c)(4) campaign meant to really educate people because a lot of times when UTOPIA or one of these companies comes to a city council, which have constituents who would like better service, the version of life that they’re giving—there is a lot more to the story. At least more details and information that the public, and even those mayors and city council members ought to be aware of before making a big decision to get into debt and get into that lane as a city to provide internet infrastructure.” Listen to the full discussion starting at the 4:35 mark here .

Utah State Auditor in Deseret News: Government-owned internet networks hurt taxpayers

April 22, 2024
Utah State Auditor John Dougall penned an op-ed for the Deseret News, calling out the harm that government-owned internet has inflicted on taxpayers in his state. In the op-ed, Dougall wrote, "The number of government-owned networks is increasing by the day, and taxpayers, not users, are often footing the bill. Government-owned broadband networks cost millions of dollars and divert essential funding away from services that really matter to the public — services such as police and fire, roads, water and sewer... Public officials across the country, and especially here in Utah, should resist the appealing allure of expanding or deploying government-owned networks, which allure has been shown to be deceptive, and ultimately destructive, to taxpayers." Read the auditor's full commentary here .

NoGovInternet.com in Deseret News: Is government control of our internet a good idea?

March 27, 2024
NoGovInternet leader and former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes recently penned an op-ed for Deseret News, “Is government control of our internet a good idea?” Among other points in the column, Hughes wrote, “Never once, in over 20 years in the public square, did I meet a single Utahn who asked or demanded that any government, from the state down to the city level, take control of internet infrastructure.” Read the full op-ed here .