Bringing Google fiber to Baltimore
I dare our Baltimore city government to work to bring more fiber to Baltimore.
I'm talking about Google fiber. Google is about to embark on a trial run to give select communities across the country access to ultra high-speed Internet access. We're talking screaming fast accessibility -- the kind that can launch and enable new business models and companies, that could create jobs and reinvent education at K-12 and college.
So far, the steady drumbeat of support has come from Baltimore's techie community. They've launched a site called BmoreFiber.com.
The folks behind this effort aren't mincing words about their mission. In large bold letters on the site, they write: "Ask Google to invest billions in Baltimore's future." (Gosh, I hope it doesn't cost billions to wire Baltimore with Google's fiber.)
How far will Baltimore city government go to support this effort? I'm trying to find out.
In the meantime, you can make known your own support at this official Google site.
This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech
Comments
yes for google fiber in baltimore.
ill check out the site later and tell other people about it, but FYI the site is blocked at work for me... something about advertisements
Posted by: Nate | February 22, 2010 9:36 AM
I would love to see this initiative tested in B'More.
Posted by: NotableM | February 22, 2010 10:24 AM
The problem with Google fiber in Baltimore and is evidenced by the map on the site you linked to. Where would it go? Google would want to target to one community. What community would that be in Baltimore?
That being said I applaud them for trying to get Google fiber! The city especially needs some force that will get Comcast and Verizon to provide good, fast and reliable service to the city.
(you week long[?] DSL outage speaks to how Verizon doesn't see DSL service in the city as anything more than a check bx they have to provide.)
Posted by: Paul | February 22, 2010 11:36 AM
Google should absolutely be looking at the Baltimore/DC metro area for their fiber test markets. There are so many technical people here that are seething to ditch Comcast and Verizon.
I already have FiOS, but if Google were to come to my area I'd bail regardless of early termination fees. I respect Google more than Verizon and am confident they could deliver a better product at a fairer price. I refuse to fall victim to the ficticious "bandwidth crisis" some have been floating about as an explanation why the net can't be faster and must be capped or manipulated. I know I'm far from alone.
AA county needs it more than Baltimore. =P
Posted by: BigDragon | February 22, 2010 3:23 PM
The problem is that nobody but Comcast can legally do anything in Baltimore City until our City Council grows a collective backbone and gets rid of the monopoly. My neighborhood is ready for FIOS, but Verizon can't activate it.
Apropriate Captcha: shaft for
Posted by: pgp | February 22, 2010 4:55 PM
I too am ecstatic at the thought of fiber optic speeds being made available in my area of the city (Hampden HON), but has anyone really had the experience of dealing with Google customer services? I've only heard horror stories...
Posted by: Andrew | February 22, 2010 6:42 PM
This effort is well worth the attempt. Not to mention the research, documentation and paperwork can also be used for several other Broadband grant opportunities. We need to show GOOGLE we are serious. Help us show Google our appetite for this opportunity by showing some numbers! Join the BmoreFiber Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/BmoreFiber
Posted by: Mario Armstrong | February 22, 2010 8:34 PM
One benefit of making this push for Google fiber in Baltimore is to apply pressure on Comcast and Verizon. Whether or not the Bmore Fiber initiative is successful (and I think it will be), the public should be pressing for better, faster, and more widely available internet. There is *a lot* more that Comcast and Verizon could and should be doing now. At the least, this campaign should put some pressure on them to improve services.
Posted by: Andrew Hazlett | February 23, 2010 6:45 AM
We need a Facebook group similar to the "Google fiber for Grand Rapids" and "Bring Google fiber to Madison Wisconsin." There are a bunch of other cities lobbying this way.
Not sure if this is relevent. but Social Security headquarters in Woodlawn is undertaking a significant effort to collect medical records electronically. I can imagine these records might eat up significant bandwidth.
Posted by: Monty | March 4, 2010 4:26 PM
Not so fast. We might get bankrupt before we get on with this. Well not bankrupt. I was reading this article. The author has brought up solid points: http://awesomedc.com/2010/03/15/hold-your-horses-baltimore/
Posted by: liona Perri | March 19, 2010 2:21 PM