[PSound]



Quote:
Google is getting into the broadband network business, at least on a small scale.


The company has been pushing the FCC to require higher baseline speeds as part of the national broadband plan, but has decided to take the do-it-yourself approach.


The company announced Wednesday (Feb. 10) that it would build fiber-to-the home network test beds in various locations, delivering 1 gigabit per second to some 50,000 customers at what it called a "competitive" price, with the goal of multiplying that customer base tenfold.


Setting itself up as something of a private industry variant of the government entities--NTIA, USDA--seeking bids for broadband stimulus build-out funds, Google is soliciting RFI's (request for information) from municipalities across the country who would like to have the network built there.


The RFI was issued Wednesday and cities and communities will have until March 26 to respond.


"We've urged the FCC to look at new and creative ways to get there in its National Broadband Plan, and today we're announcing an experiment of our own," said the company.


Google is essentially looking to demonstrate the type of network it has argued is needed to handle all the killer apps and the HD video that will be the currency of the broadband world.

Quote:
"Google's project will show the benefits of the open access model, where the owner of the network offers third parties the ability to provide services over their infrastructure," said the Open Internet Coalition in a statement. "Additionally, Google will operate its network on a neutral basis, embracing net neutrality as an operating principle. We hope this will serve as an example to other network operators that the open model should not be feared, but should be emulated. Profit and openness are mistakenly seen to be in conflict; in fact we believe they are synergistic and amplifying."

"Big broadband creates big opportunities," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in response to the Google announcement. "This significant trial will provide an American test bed for the next generation of innovative, high-speed Internet apps, devices, and services. The FCC's National Broadband Plan will build upon such private-sector initiatives and will include recommendations for facilitating and accelerating greater investment in broadband, creating jobs and increasing America's global competitiveness."

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/art...pp_Network.php

 

[PSound]



Quote:
Interest groups, politicians talk about decision to test 1Gb internet service


Google's announcement that it was planning to build some test-bed high-speed broadband networks around the country drew a flurry of responses from a snowed-in Washington, D.C.


"Google's announcement today amounts to a nationwide competition for communities to step up and make the case for what a next generation network could do for them and then show America what is possible," said Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. ""Google is not the only company with the know-how and capacity to build this kind of network, but somebody had to go first," he said. "Maybe network providers with different ideas for what is possible will step up as well. Either way, we may finally see in America what a first class, neutral platform can mean for unleashing innovation, strengthening community institutions, and generating economic activity."


Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, pointed out that Verizon was already delivering fiber to the home. "Google's proposed experiment with building ultra-fast, open broadband pipelines in a handful of communities follows a trail already blazed by Verizon's FiOS network," he said, "which has fiber optic cables capable of speeds comparable to what Google proposes.


"The FCC should adopt these high standards and aspirational goals when it delivers the National Broadband Plan to Congress in March," he said.


""Google is to be commended on announcing up front that the network will be open to other service providers and will be operated on a neutral, non-discriminatory basis -- as all networks should be," said GiGi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge. "We hope that all sectors of the telecommunications industry will work together to make the project a success, and that lessons learned on deployment, construction techniques applications will be widely shared. "


Andrew Schwartzman, President of Media Access Project said it was an opportunity to "demonstrate the effectiveness of a network-neutral, open access broadband network operating at world-class speeds."


That is undoubtedly Google's aim given that it has been pushing the FCC to require higher speeds and open networks as part of its broadband plan due to Congress March 17.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/art...nouncement.php

 

[guile42]

possibly a good news..

 

[Robert Simandl]

Oh, I'd dump Charter in a heartbeat!

 

[jagouar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by guile42 /forum/post/18113656


possibly a good news..

Its only good news if it comes to my city..... which our city has a better chance than most because we are a smaller city that already has dark fiber.

 

[PSound]

The point is that Google is going to demonstrate what experts (at least those not on the cable companies payroll) already know. Wideband internet to the home with no limits is feasible, economical and beneficial to users and the service providers.

 

[DeeKaye07]

Would love it if they came to my neck of the woods!! I pay way too much to the cable company already for bundled Internet/TV/phone...


DGK