Who constructs, owns, maintains and operates I-Nets?
The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) has recently conducted a survey to which 48 communities that have I-Nets responded. According to the survey, in 56 percent of these communities, the cable operator built all or most of the I-Net, in 13% a telephone company did so, and in 44% the local government itself built all or substantial components of the I-Net. In 44% of these communities, the cable operator owns and maintains all or a portion of the I-Net, in 19% a telephone company does so, and in 67% the local government owns and maintains all or a portion of the I-Net. Local governments generally consider operation of the I-Net as a function of government, even if they do not own it. Twenty-five percent of the responding communities share operations with a cable company and 19% do so with a telephone company or an electric utility.
