Google Fiber chooses nine metro areas for possible expansion

[SecularMotion]

Source: Arstechnica

Google Fiber is ready to expand, as Google has identified nine metro areas scattered around the country as possible sites of deployment, the company said.

"We’ve invited 34 cities in nine metro areas across the US to work with us to explore what it would take to build a new fiber-optic network in their community," Google said in an announcement today. "Many of these cities asked for Google Fiber in 2010 and have since continued to try to bring better Internet access to their residents."

Google is "hitting the road" to meet with these cities, and "conducting detailed studies of factors that affect construction plans in each place, like topography (e.g. hills, flood zones), housing density, and the condition of local infrastructure."

Read more: http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/02/google-fiber-chooses-nine-metro-areas-for-possible-expansion/

[Agschmid]

1. Can't wait!

[CatholicEdHead]

2. I would have liked to see a Minneapolis expansion

hopefully next time.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

4. Darn. Me, too.

We could use some alternatives in the Twin Cities.

[Seedersandleechers]

3. I live in Kansas City

and have google fiber. My choices were TWC, AT&T, and now GF. Competition is good however for high speed internet it's $70 a month. Luckily I don't own a TV and therefore do not need cable, and, I have a roommate to split the cost with.

[jtuck004]

5. They need competition.

https://www.outernet.is/

[lostincalifornia]

6. Just got an email from Google saying San Jose was a possible city. I about fell off my chair. I

didn't think we stood a chance.

Boy I hope they come here

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. Portland is on the list!

2 years away from service tho

[quakerboy]

22. Still

Having an alternative to Cable or DSL would be amazing

[Earth_First]

8. Why not a major Northeast city?

Interesting.

[mrmpa]

9. My thought too..........

Also the upper Midwest was ignored.

[kentauros]

14. Why not ANY major city?

The first two chosen in my state (Texas) combine to less than the total population of Houston, or DFW.

So, maybe that's the reason. Small cities first.

[former9thward]

33. Phoenix is a small city?

[kentauros]

34. I'm going to take a gues that you can answer that better than I.

On first glance at that map, I only saw cities smaller than the classification of "major." Feel free to compare populations of all cities on their map and re-inform me if you feel so inclined.

[Jesus Malverde]

20. Google has to lay their fiber...

Cities like SF would make them bury all the lines..I suspect In other cities they can run this from poles.

[silenttigersong]

10. ?

I recently read or watched a doc,not sure ,but I think Google was an example of offshore- tax loopholes...anyone know 4 sure?Honestly ,if so isn't this a serious issue,to some DU'ers?

[NBachers]

11. Could you please restate that?

[silenttigersong]

12. Made in China

Been thinking about my consumer choices,and just wanted to know about Google's off shore banking practices..,I just recalled it was Facebook cited in a financial documentary about offshore banking.Sorry, if I do not communicate very well.

[onehandle]

13. Mostly the South. Figures. nt

[Heywood J]

15. Now I can give _all_ of my data directly to them! Woohoo!

I realize some people don't have an alternative, but it's still hard to overlook the other issues with that company.

[quakerboy]

23. As compared with

Comcast, verizon, etc who many of us are stuck with now?

Its pretty challenging to find an IPS that doesnt have some serious issues. And I would guess that if you did, they are small and buying their bandwidth from a larger ISP who does have issues in the privacy realm. And if not there, then in the net neutrality realm.

[TroglodyteScholar]

16. Of course, nothing in the upper Midwest.

[NorthCarolina]

17. Glad to see Charlotte in the running

We can sure use some competition here.

[marions ghost]

18. Exactly what does this mean?

----can anybody put it in layperson terms?

[Jesus Malverde]

19. Google fiber is a super fast internet connection that allows you to download a whole movie in

a couple minutes. It's the kind of bandwidth that used to power a medium sized business now it's available in some homes.

It's not coupled with a tv package.

[marions ghost]

21. Thanks

I guess it could be argued that homes don't need that kind of bandwidth? Wonder why there aren't options.

I saw that it could be coupled with TV package?

[quakerboy]

24. It also offers a free option

you pay 300 bucks to get the line installed, but then get free internet for a minimum of 7 years, at a speed comparable to a cheap Comcast package.

That breaks down to about 3.50 a month. Comcast's absolute best, 6 month special price is 19.99 (+10 if you dont buy their TV service) per month, then it jumps to 40-70 a month after your deal is over, and more if they can sneak things past you on the bill. Even if you only consider the first year, it would break down to $25 a month, a significant cost reduction for most people.

[ccpi]

25. what the fuck

wtf

[uppityperson]

28. What? Welcome to DU and what?

[marions ghost]

27. thanks

OK I see...seems to be a reasonable deal. Any downside, or is this a huge improvement and a good way to go? I like to be sure before I support things I don't know much about.

[quakerboy]

29. I tend to think that any expansion of options

in the isp market is a good thing. Dialup is pretty well dead. Cable companies are usually scam masters. DSL is rarely better. And most places youve only got one of each to chose from. The cell phone companies are starting to get in on things, but its pretty limited so far.

[marions ghost]

30. The cell phone companies

---do not trust AT ALL. Predatory.

[geomon666]

26. No South Florida?

[tkmorris]

31. Right?

I got all excited and everything. Atlanta? Pffftttt.

[Lost_Count]

32. I wonder how far out from these main metro areas it will expand...

... or does it just stay in city limits?