Title
Google Ultra High-Speed Broadband Networks Trial (NB)
Staff recommends submitting an application to become a Google High-Speed Broadband Network test city.
Explanation
According to a news release, Google is planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. Google will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. According to Google there are several specific things they have in mind:
* Next generation applications: We want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it's creating new bandwidth-intensive "killer applications" and services, or other uses we can't yet imagine.
* New deployment techniques: We'll test new ways to build fiber networks, and to help inform and support deployments elsewhere, we'll share key lessons learned with the world.
Openness and choice: We'll operate an "open access" network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers.
* And consistent with our past advocacy
, we'll manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent way.
Staff believes there are a number of reasons why a project of this nature would be ideal to trial in Gainesville. The fact that we already own an extensive fiber optic network is certainly an important one, but also because of the university, college and medical community partnerships, the two fiber-to-the-home projects already constructed by GRUCom and the Chamber of Commerce's "Innovation" initiative to make Gainesville a leader in emerging technological fields all lend themselves to this kind of trial.
GRUCom staff will complete the application which is due on March 26 on behalf of the City.
Recommendations
The City Commission authorize the General Manager, or his designee, to...
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