Baltimore appoints Google Czar to help win Google Fiber
The online search giant launched a project called Google Fiber for Communities, where it plans to develop ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more locations across the United States. Google has said that its new fiber-optic network would deliver Internet speeds “more than 100 times faster” than what most people have access to today.
[Mayor] Rawlings-Blake picked Tom Loveland, chief executive officer of technology company Mind Over Machines, to be the volunteer “Google Czar.” Loveland will be working with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Neighborhoods to complete and submit details on Baltimore’s proposal to Google by the March 26 deadline.
Loveland said the Baltimore region has world-class resources in its universities, hospitals and private industries, and “a growing population of entrepreneurs who are trying to make a difference in the community.”
Technology advocates in Baltimore have also launched their own Website – BmoreFiber.com – which is documenting the support for bringing the project to Baltimore. So far, more than 1,600 people have expressed their support through the site, which also features supporting videos by Gov. Martin O’Malley and Dr. Andres Alonso, chief executive officer of Baltimore’s public schools.
Topeka, Kansas changed the city name to Google for the month in an attempt to get Google Fiber. Greenville, South Carolina is planning an event March 20 with what some are calling a “flashmob” with glow sticks spelling out a message for Google that will be photographed from the sky.
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Going a few days without seeing a new post on InsideCharmCity.com was difficult for me, though I managed. It’s good to have you back after a little break!
Comment by Daniel 'The Whig Man; Vovak — March 12, 2010 @ 8:18 am
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What if I said there’s already a corporation that is eager and willing to lay their fiber in the city?
I’ve spoken with Verizon on several occasions when out and about in the county and I run into their FiOS booths. I tell them I’d love to have FiOS as a choice in the city (something they’ve heard a lot), and they tell me they’d love to have me as a customer, but the city isn’t cooperating to allow them to run the fiber. Last story I heard was that the city wanted to charge them an exorbitant per-foot rate to run fiber.
Did the city charge Comcast (or its predecessor) to run cable? Why is the city balking at providing choice to their citizens? Clearly Comcast is in City Hall’s pocket. One need only review the meetings and agreement reached during Comcast’s last franchise renewal a few years ago. Comcast got a helluva sweetheart deal, especially when compared with Comcast’s franchise agreements in comparable metropolitan areas.
Meanwhile my Comcast internet continues to pixellate, and my internet access drops connections about every 10 minutes.
I’d love to have Google, and shun Verizon and Comcast completely (let’s face it, switching FiOS is probably the lesser of two evils), but given Comcast’s monopolistic practices, and traditionally treatment of Baltimore City customers, I’d welcome any chance at least getting away from them.
Comment by Bill — March 12, 2010 @ 8:35 am
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Bill,
It appears Verizon has stopped expanding its FiOS charter agreements with cities and counties nationally. Washington Business Journal reported that Alexandria was not getting FIOS for that reason.
Comment by Jeff Quinton — March 13, 2010 @ 10:39 am
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Verizon’s primary motivations for building FIOS were anticompetitive and reactionary. They were sick of dealing with competitors, for which they were obliged to share their copper plant infrastructure.
By building out FIOS, they eliminated the copper-line sharing mandates forced by the Telecom Act of 1996, and were thus able to regain market share, lower expenses, and return control. The build-out was most dense in markets where competition was fiercest.
Now that the threat of competition has been mitigated, they are in no hurry to innovate. With a cost-plus based model, they don’t have to, and are rewarded for inefficiency. Google seeks to shake up that model, and their motivations for investment are quite different than Verizon’s.
Google is seeking to protect access to its customers, as well as grow the size of its market for advertisers. It’s promoting an open access model, which is anathema to Verizon. Google fiber and FIOS are thus very different things.
Comment by Dave Troy — March 13, 2010 @ 1:39 pm
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