Focal Communications; Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor is the Chairman and CEO of Chicago-headquartered Focal Communications, which provides local and long-distance telephone service and Internet access to businesses throughout the Chicago area and about 20 other major U.S. markets. It has revenues of $234 million. As a CLEC, or a competitive local-exchange carrier, Focal Communications owns and operates its own phone switches and leases line transport capacity from local phone monopolies such as Ameritech/SBC Communications. Robert Taylor is a co-founder and director of Focal Communications and has served as its Chairman/CEO since 1996. Focal Communications is a portfolio company of Madison Dearborn Partners, another career patron of Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood. James Perry and Andrew Sinwell, managing directors of MDP, are on the board of directors of Focal Communications.

Focal Communications and Robert Taylor are career patrons of former Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood (R), and as of June 30, 2002, had contributed $25,000 to her campaign committee. Of that amount, Focal Communications contributed $15,000, and Robert Taylor contributed $10,000.

Between 2000 and 2001, Mr. Taylor and Focal Communications contributed $29,000 to political campaigns, 97% of it to Republicans.

Last revised June 2011.