Skeptics say LA’s free fiber plan as plausible as finding a unicorn

Los Angeles wants to bring fiber-based broadband to all of its residents and businesses and build a citywide Wi-Fi network at the same time. The best part for LA is that the buildout won't cost the city a dime. Free broadband for all, and gigabit for those who can afford it. That's because LA is going to issue an RFP (request for proposal) asking vendors to build out the network themselves at an estimated cost of $3 billion to $5 billion. Despite the vendor bearing that cost, it would also be required to make the network open to any other service provider on a wholesale basis.

Longtime watchers of the broadband industry say Los Angeles seems to be asking for the impossible. "My first reaction is 'I look forward to their RFP for a unicorn supplier, because I think it's about as likely under these terms,'" said Harold Feld, senior VP of the technology-focused consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge. The offer of a contract to provide data center hosting and other services to LA isn't enough to lure a vendor to build out the whole fiber network, Christopher Mitchell, director of the Telecommunications as Commons Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance said.