Commonwealth Edison Co

Purpose: the Proposed Project Represents a 446-MILE Fiber Deployment Covering the South and West Sides of Chicago, Which Includes the Build of 30 Strategic Interconnection Points for Third-party Access and Construction of Additional Fiber Capacity to Be Allocated for Last-mile Providers. Comed Will Be Bringing New Available Low-cost Middle-mile Infrastructure Into 24 Communities in Need, Representing Over 440,000 Households.to Increase Downstream Affordability Through the Material Reduction of Broadband Prices Necessary for These Neighborhoods, Comed Takes a Flexible Approach to Its Dark Fiber Pricing That Accounts for the Affordability Needs of a Neighborhood and the Last Mile Providers' Operational Requirements. Activities to Be Performed: Project Will Use Fiber to Construct New/resilient Middle Mile Networks Through Underserved Communities With a Commitment to Open Access and Carrier Neutral Non-discriminatory Interconnect. the Period of Performance Is Expected to Be Five Years. Expected Outcomes: the Applicant Proposes to Accelerate Its Planned Operational Fiber Deployment Buildouts Within Areas Needing Broadband, Providing Affordable Dark Fiber Capacity to Last Mile Providers. the Proposed Project Is Comprised of Two Major Components: Along the Planned Operational Fiber Routes, Comed Will Leverage Federal Funding to Expand Fiber Capacity That Will Be Allocated for Last Mile Providers, to Be Supplied Indiscriminately and in Perpetuity Where Technically Feasible. Build Appropriate Off-ramps (e.g. Handholes) at Key Locations Along These Routes Such That Prospective Last-mile Providers Can More Efficiently Interconnect Into Comed's Middle-mile Infrastructure. the Applicant Is Engaged With Several Prospective Last Mile Providers and Has Signed Mou's And/or Letters of Support. Proposed Last Mile Provider Service Offerings Include: Deployment of a Broadband Network That Will Offer Services to Locations Within Identified Communities. Last-mile Network Infrastructure Delivering High-speed Connectivity to Residences, Businesses, Community Centers, and Anchor Institutions. Bandwidth Ranging From 50 to 100 Megabits Per Second Symmetrical to the User. the Applicant Asserts That the Proposed Network Will Provide Broadband Infrastructure That Enables Last Mile Services via Last Mile Providers for: 24 Communities in Need, Representing Over 440,000 Households and 114 Anchor Institutions Within 1000 Feet of the Proposed Network. Intended Beneficiaries: the Proposed Network Covers Neighborhoods in the South and West Sides of Chicago, Areas Which Have Shown to Be Both the Most Economically Challenged and Least Connected. These Areas Include West Garfield Park; Humboldt Park; North Lawndale; Englewood; Greater Grand Crossing; Austin; West Englewood; South Shore; South Lawndale; Near West Side; Auburn Gresham; Brighton Park; Archer Heights; Vittum Park; Back of the Yards; Chicago Lawn; Roseland; and Hyde Park.comed's Project Will Create a Material Reduction in End-user Broadband Prices for Target Underserved and Unserved Households in Chicago. Within the Project Area, the Median Percent of Households Without Internet Was 29.4% With Some Areas as High as 53%. This Signifies a Meaningful Number of Households Without Access to Online Resources That Support Social, Economic, Digital Health and Educational Services. While Providers Exist in These Areas, the Service Pricing for Services With Adequate Speeds Has Proven a Barrier to Many Households. Comed's Planned Buildout of Dark Fiber Capacity in These Regions Will Help Quilt and Other Isps to Deliver on Their Digital Inclusion Strategy .collectively, This Represents Approximately 440,000 Households in Need and 114 Anchor Institutions. Subrecipient Activities: There Are No Subrecipients.