Take a look, people. If your city is on this map, Google is at least actively considering bringing Google Fiber your way.
The company just announced that they will be looking at the feasibility of installing its 1 gigabit (soon to be 10?) high-speed internet service in 9 different metro areas–34 communities altogether.
Here’s a full list:
- Portland, Oregon–Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, Tigard, and Gresham
- Atlanta, Georgia–Avondale Estates, East Point, Brookhaven, Hapeville, College Park, Sandy Springs, Decatur, and Smyrna
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- San Antonio, Texas
- Phoenix, Arizona–Scottsdale, Tempe
- Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina–Carrborro, Cary, Garner, Morrisville, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham
- San Jose, California–Santa Clara, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto
Not on the list? Yeah, me neither. Let’s all just slink back into our giant, Comcast/Time Warner-sized holes and cry.
Google is not saying that all of these cities will be getting Fiber. They say that they want that to be the case, but it “might not work out for everyone.”
Basically, Google has to see which cities can handle it (and how much it can handle itself in the process).
“We aim to provide updates by the end of the year about which cities will be getting Google Fiber. Between now and then, we’ll work closely with each city’s leaders on a joint planning process that will not only map out a Google Fiber network in detail, but also assess what unique local challenges we might face. These are such big jobs that advance planning goes a long way toward helping us stick to schedules and minimize disruption for residents,” says Milo Medin, VP, Google Access Services.
“We’re going to work on a detailed study of local factors that could affect construction, like topography (e.g., hills, flood zones), housing density and the condition of local infrastructure. Meanwhile, cities will complete a checklist of items that will help them get ready for a project of this scale and speed.”
So, why these areas? According to Google, they all “made high-speed broadband a pillar of their economic development plans.” If you’re not on this map, blame your local government.
Image via Google Fiber Blog