CHICAGO
Chicago communications networks
Owned by: A (future) consortium of telecommunications companies.
Serves: City government, schools, hospitals and other community organizations,
as well as businesses and individuals.
Funded by: A public/private partnership. In a "shopping mall" arrangement,
a contractor pays for build-out and the city, as the anchor tenant, guarantees
a certain yearly income. Other potential "renters" pay monthly service charges
to use the network.
Status: A request for proposal will be issued this spring, with construction
to begin at the end of year.
Etc.: In a tight economy, the contractor may find it hard to get enough
money to build the infrastructure. To avoid delays, the city is looking
at raising part of the money through a revenue bond. The city's earmarked
$25 million would then be split — half going to pay back the bond and half
to guarantee the contractor a yearly return. This alternative funding model
could cut construction time from 10 years to five years.
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