reply to FOODANDDRUG
Re: Riverside Wi-Fi Low Income
said by FOODANDDRUG  :In looking at the economics of the bid, AT&T probably looked at the electric pole issue as a big hurdle to jump and with the Utilities department already operating and managing a fiber system throughout the city, this became an easier hurdle to jump from an economic perspective.
Perhaps. The bigger issue is that this will be AT&T's poster child for anti-muni projects. With a city that has its own fiber and utilites, and is one of the fastest growing regions in the country can't do it, neither can smalltown USA...
It appears from the bid that the city utility department will not handle any business or residential billing for the Wi-Fi service and this will be handled by AT&T. Naturally...
This by itself is a big, big win for Riverside consumers and it tells me that if AT&T can offer free Wi-Fi or paid levels for higher speeds, they certainly must offer naked-DSL at prices much, much lower than what is currently if you do not desire any other services, other than DSL. Apples and oranges...
Frankly, I'm surprised AT&T bid on this considering in other areas AT&T was against other municipalities from offering internet service. See above. This is a foot in the door for Freedomlink. Not to mention that the main central office in Riverside is downtown next to the library and Mission Inn, and will be where Project Lightspeed will be served from...
If AT&T can establish a profitable business model from what they are planning to offer in Riverside, a combination municipal utility and AT&T service proposal may be a win-win for both sides. Again, Freedomlink...
Maybe AT&T no room to yell and scream about Riverside already providing internet service since it is already in place and operating (the city-wide fiber backbone) in addition to the Wi-Fi service downtown. The WiFi service in downtown is horrible. Hence this new arrangement...
My hunch tells me that AT&T will not make anything off the Wi-Fi portion of the deal and will have to pay Metro-Fi a fee to set-up and build out the Wi-Fi portion. Where AT&T may come ahead is the communications portion of the agreement if the city elects to purchase additional services not covered by the contract, overages for additional cellular minutes, new equipment, etc. Dont think government here. Think consumer communications. Project Lightspeed and Uverse...
One of the requirements is to have Wi-Fi available to every residential unit within the city limits up to the second floor, with a 90% availability rate inside each residential dwelling. I doubt this will even happen. How will they even verify...
You have to assume that AT&T has built into its economics that they have estimated a number of it's customers will drop DSL in favor of the free Wi-Fi service and/or other paid speed tier levels. I dought that any DSL losses are even a factor. The most likely thing to happen is that they will get the full WiFi capability if they subscribe to Project Lightspeed/Uverse package deal...
I still say if were not for the city-owned electric utility, AT&T would not have bid on the Wi-Fi RFP. Agreed...
Interesting choice of selecting the Auto Center off the 91 Freeway for the test site for Wi-Fi. AT&T's engineering office, and garage for the technicians is located right there...
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