A City Is Deliberating Whether to Undertake a Major Infrastructure

question 3

Essay

A city is deliberating whether to undertake a major infrastructure investment to provide free, high-speed WIFI internet access within its city limits. Alternatively, the city could rely on the private sector to provide access. The city estimates internet demand to be P = 20 - 5Q, where Q denotes number of users (in millions) and P is price per month in dollars. The emerging private market for internet access is considered to be highly competitive, and the typical provider exhibits LAC = LMC = $5 per subscriber per month, where LAC is long-run average cost and LMC is long-run marginal cost. According to the city's estimates, the initial cost for constructing the high-speed network is $600 million and network maintenance costs are $80 million per year. Prepare a benefit-cost analysis to guide the city's decision. Assume that the public and private alternatives will last indefinitely, and that each will be held to a 5% discount rate.

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Definitions:

MM Model

Refers to the Modigliani-Miller theorem, which proposes that under certain market conditions and assumptions, the value of a firm is unaffected by its capital structure.

Bankruptcy Risk

The likelihood that a company will be unable to meet its financial obligations and may have to declare bankruptcy.

Debt Financing

Raising funds through borrowing, typically by issuing bonds or taking out loans, which must be repaid at a later date, usually with interest.

Cash Preservation

The practice of managing resources to ensure sufficient liquidity and minimize financial risk.