- Bad news for ATL? Sources say Google Fiber eyeing NC’s Research Triangle [WRAL]
- Medlock community meeting notes regarding Atlanta annexation, remaining unincorped [MANA]
- Twitter plans Atlanta expansion, picks Ponce City Market [ABC]
- Lower priced Atlanta homes also more expensive [AJC]
- ATLUrbanist’s “Who owns these eyesores?” piece for Atlanta Mag [ATL Urbanist]
- And the data Says! Georgia’s got some corruption issues [538]
Bunny courtesy of Google, NC Map courtesy of NPS
So I’m confused. Does N.C. seemingly being further along in getting Google Fiber negatively impact our chances of getting it this round? I didn’t think it was a zero sum game (although obviously would not be great if they got it before we did).
I don’t know that anyone (but google) knows whether NC’s success in getting fiber decreases our chances of getting it. It is just an interesting observation that NC appears to be moving forward and we haven’t heard anything yet.
I am still optimistic especially where in an article it says it appears Google may be leasing or somehow partnering with AT&T on the fiber lines for their competing gigabit fiber internet service in NC.
Maybe Atlanta’s chances are also good since AT&T also plans to roll out gigabit fiber competing internet service in Atlanta too. The article also said Google legally formed a fiber company in NC on December 2nd. I wonder if anyone knows how to find out if Google similarly legally formed a fiber company I n GA too. Also not necessarily a deal breaker if not if NC is to get fiber before Atlanta. I’m sure DM knows how to find this info, since they lead the breaking news on this topic and many others.
According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s website, a Google Fiber Georgia, LLC was formed on November 5, 2014.
Nice, thanks for finding this Leoghann
The whole Google Fiber love affair mystifies me.
The article has no information relating to whether or not Decatur or any other place will get fiber. Its just hearsay gossip. Google will go where the host city makes it financially attractive for them to go. I wonder if Decatur residents are ready for streets to be dug up, boring to be done, (possibly) more aerial facilities to be put in where needed (meaning trees trimmed most likely) and fiber huts (buildings) to be placed alongside the road. All so a few can get more Internet speed than they ever dreamed was possible.
1 Gbps residential fiber is available from the cable company in Phoenix for 79 bucks a month. Lots of other places too. I’m sure it will be here too before too long. Google isn’t the only game in town.
Who NEEDS 1 Gbps at their home anyway? I’d love to see some examples that anyone would do at HOME with that large a pipe. Even 100 Mbps is more than most would need and you can get that NOW from Comcast.
“The whole Google Fiber love affair mystifies me.”
I think it’s as much hatred of Comcast as anything.
What I would like to see is, say, 12mbps, for less than $20 a month (not a promotional price, but standard).
Bingo. We are counting the days until we can tell Comcast to sit and spin.
And computerguy, your “who needs that much?” scoff reminds me of my dad’s shortsightedness back when he got his blazing fast 2400 baud modem.
“Why would we ever need anything faster than THIS?”
You’ll still be counting for a while. The build-out will take some time.
Yes, you will be waiting.
Before Google or any other non-incumbent does the first this, there are many hurdles, including pole rights (from GA Power as well as AT&T), roadside buildings or huts to permit and construct plus a lot more.
As is typical for other fiber builds, the MDUs (Multi Dwelling Units/Apartments) will likely get the service first, because of the housing density. They might do some new neighborhoods that are early enough in the construction stages to lay–in fiber. I don’t know of any in Decatur that aren’t MDUs though.
After all that the low hanging fruit, they MAY build to existing neighborhoods if enough users contract for the service. I think it will be a while. The perceived higher disposable income of Decaturites may be something to tip the scales a bit more in Decatur’s favor.
What you will most probably see is that if Google actually does announce a Decatur coverage area, the competition will ramp up and Comcast will likely make a $79.00 or so “high speed” DOCSIS 3.1. offering, or perhaps a limited fiber offering in the easy to serve/new areas.. They will have a high take rate because they already have a coaxial cable into most homes and they can serve you with that. Not with a Gig to start, but certainly 300 Mbps or so.
Google has said that their main reason to do this is to spur competition. The more bandwidth you can use, the more they can monitor your Email, streaming and browsing habits to garner information that they can sell or use to target you with more customized ads. That’s not conspiracy theory either- it is the cold hard truth. All those Google online services come at a cost, and that is your privacy.
Take a look at cities where Google has announced, but then never built. They now magically have several new high speed services available. You may even see AT&T “unannounce” their announcement that they weren’t going to build that “Super Fast Internet” in Atlanta yet.
I get the sense that the average person will gladly trade off some privacy for convenience. I think people prove it by the choices they make. Most people won’t even take the time to create a strong password (myself included, to some extent).