Chicago has issued an RFP (pdf) and will consider proposals, leaving it to the private sector to determine the best way to build out the network and how to make it profitable, said 39th Ward Alderman Margaret Laurino, chairman of the council’s Economic, Capital and Technology Development Committee.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the wireless network is expected to cost about $18 million and take up to 18 months to build. Laurino said the city hopes to pick a vendor and get started within four months.
Among the companies she thinks will respond to the RFP are EarthLink, Google and AT&T, Laurino said in a Wednesday morning radio interview.
Mayor Richard Daley said at the press conference announcing the Wi-Fi plans that he also expects the private sector to step up and provide access to computers for low-income residents, as part of the Wi-Fi plan.
Chicago (pop. 2.9 million) covers about 234 square miles. The contract will last 10 years. The city is providing access to public rights of way, such as utility poles, and could become an anchor tenant on the system as well. Chicago officials estimate the need for as many as 7500 antennas in order to cover the entire city. According to Laurino, the concentration will be on neighborhoods where residents are less likely to be able to afford Internet access.
Houston got 5 Proposals for their massive 600 square mile network, estimated to cost $30 million to $50 million. The project would be completed sometime in 2007 or 2008.
The city is considering bids from five companies seeking the contract. Houston bidders include: Earthlink, Redmoon Broadband, Convergent Broadband (partnering with IBM, Tropos and Reliant Energy), NextWLAN Corporation, Houston Wi Fi Ltd.. The wireless network will be built at no cost to taxpayers. The proposals will go through a three-phase evaluation / selection process over the next several months.
