in Check It Out, Follow-Up, X-Geek |

Google creates fiber Internet resource site

In response to the overwhelming demand that 1,100 communities showed for the Google Fiber project, Google created the Fiber for Communities website. This site is a collection of resources that is intended to pave the way for communities to acquire fiber Internet.

I really like how Google has positioned this new effort. They know that their fiber project will only serve a handful of communities, leaving many to fend for themselves. By creating this site, Google shows it is committed to sharing its findings and supporting those communities who want to make this jump.

It’s been my position all along that communities cannot wait for Google to ride in on a white horse and save them from moribund broadband. The odds of that are pretty low. While I would be thrilled for Google to choose Raleigh for its Google Fiber project, lately I have come to see the value of Google not picking Raleigh.

I’ve been an advocate for municipal broadband, and very proud to have had a hand in beating back every attempt by the big telecom companies to block it. I would take just as much pride in assisting my city in the creation of its own fiber network. Yeah, Google could come in and solve all of our problems, but that would deny us the knowledge and experience gained from building our own network from scratch.

And for the record, I don’t begrudge telecom companies. I think they offer a great product. At the same time, I think there is plenty of room for more competition in this industry. If nothing else, Google has shown that there is plenty of demand for more broadband options.

Published

  1. I begrudge telecoms that try and use their influence against legislators to limit competition. That’s completely anti-capitalism and I hate it.

    That being said, if Raleigh proposed municipal service, I’d oppose it.

  2. Wow. Even the libertarian website Carolina Politics thinks municipal broadband is ok:

    I view it this way. If a local government wants to construct their own network because they feel they can do a better job at it and provide faster or more updated services then I say let them. The only restriction I would maybe place is that they don’t use taxpayer dollars to artificially lower prices to a below market rate. That would unfairly price the private company out of business. Then again, if that’s what the people want then maybe it should be allowed. Telecommunications companies have an oligopoly anyway in that there are few if any alternatives if you don’t want to use them as your carrier.

  3. I agree that it’s ok if the community votes for it but I wouldn’t…I’m ok with community decisions cause I can more readily leave them than I can the USA.

Comments are closed.