Is AT&T a new muni-network friend?

AT&T is now actively working with municipalities on their broadband projects, where those projects involve public-private partnerships. AT&T and other incumbent LECs have opposed municipally owned networks in the past.

That includes looking at RFPs for municipal wireless projects and, in the case of one Chicago suburb, providing city-subsidized DSL service to every resident. Bedford Park, Ill., a community of just over 200 homes, is the first city to offer its residents free DSL service until an agreement it made with AT&T.

An AT&T spokesman said the shift in attitude has come on the part of the municipal governments and not AT&T.

“It’s not so much a shift on our part, it’s more a shift that we are seeing in how many municipalities are looking at these networks,” the spokesman said. “There is a lot more willingness and interest in private involvement and development whether it is municipal Wi-Fi network or a DSL network. We are actively reviewing RFPs and talking with people.”

Bedford Park is adding DSL service to the roster of city-provided services in order to retain residents, particularly young people, city officials have said.

Village officials and AT&T representatives are meeting with Bedford Park residents this week to explain the service and begin signing up customers. AT&T is able to offer DSL service to every home in Bedford Park, the spokesman said.

The village will levy an additional tax to help pay for the DSL offering, but the amount of the tax will depend on how many residents sign up. AT&T is not releasing the per-cusotmer price it is charging Bedford Park.

Residents who already have DSL service can transfer to the city-subsidized version. Residents who have cable modem service can also choose to swap that for a DSL offering.

Bedford Park officials expect to sign up as many as half of the local residents to the service.