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Google Thanks Communities and Calls for Action

Filed Under: Blog by millimanJul.14, 2010Tags:  , , ,

Over 1,100 cities have been anxiously anticipating Google’s announcement of the city or cities they will select for their Google Fiber for Communities project.  Although internally they have been ramping up activities, they have been very quiet on the public front until yesterday.  On the Official Google Blog, Minnie Ingersoll released a wonderful video thanking communities for their responses and effort, and she announced a new web site for the project.

The YouTube video is a sincere collage (complete with tear jerking music) of some of the publicity and activities cities have done supporting the project.  Take the 2 minutes and 5 seconds to watch it.  The video is a brief reminder of how consumers want more bandwidth beyond what is traditionally offered to them.

Google’s Fiber for Communities web site is their call to action for citizens to participate in the process of removing legal and regulatory roadblocks to open-access municipal broadband.  Also, it is where Google disseminates information as the project progresses.  The citizens of North Carolina recently defeated a measure heavily driven by the incumbents that would have prevented municipalities from participating in building broadband networks.  This is an example of the kind of grass-roots effort Google is encouraging on their site.  Here in Boulder we will face challenges in the construction of this network.  Many of us in the city and related industries have been working to eliminate these challenges for years.  Fortunately we are not prohibited from building an open-access municipal broadband network, but there are hurdles and requirements that must be met.  We welcome community participation in this effort.  Feel free to comment if you are interested in participating.

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Telecom Pragmatics Calls Google Effort “Token”

Filed Under: Blog by millimanApr.23, 2010Tags:  , , ,

Google FiberTelecom Pragmatics recent press release and report stating that Google’s Fiber for Communities project will be just a token effort misses the objective of Google’s project.  Google has been very clear through its minimalist communications of its objectives for this project.  They want to stimulate new applications, test new deployment techniques, and drive competition beyond the current duopolies.  They do not want to become a carrier or service provider.  They do not want to get into the business of building networks.  Google simply wants to find a business model for building last-mile networks that will stimulate the deployment of ultra-high speeds at reasonable costs through competition.  Whether they will do that in one or a couple communities is still up in the air.  Google clearly states that they do not have the expertise to come up with a solution to the U.S.’s broadband deficiencies, but they are betting on the telecommunications industry and capitalism to find one.

Google is currently vetting over 1,100 RFI submissions to find the few finalists that assembled the appropriate players to test out a model for building an open-access municipal network.  Their approach is different that the bureaucratic direction of the FCC with the National Broadband Plan.  They know that they do not have all of the answers and are looking to the experts to develop some solutions.  I applaud Google in their efforts and whether they select Boulder, Colorado or not, I will support their efforts to the fullest.  Sam, Mark, and David at Telecom Pragmatics are smart guys and I know that they understand what Google is trying to accomplish.  I trust that their report fully divulges Google’s true intentions.  As a community that has been driving FTTH for two decades, we need to fully open our experiences to Google to make their little experiment a success.

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Google Fiber for Communities Openness Discussed at Silicon Flatirons Center

Filed Under: Blog by millimanApr.09, 2010Tags:  , , , , , ,

By Brad Bernthal, Silicon Flatirons Center

Google’s ultra-fast network is tantalizing for entrepreneurs and technologists.  The potential significance of the network for policy-makers should not be overlooked, either.

For example, an under-discussed aspect of Google’s proposal is the prospect of an open access network.  Open access would enable other providers to share the fiber infrastructure and develop business models based upon it.  Conventional wisdom is that policy-makers would need to require this type of sharing because, without a mandate, it is unlikely that a network provider would share (or, in policy terms, “unbundle”) the network.  Google’s proposal is intriguing insofar as it could debunk this notion. Open access amounts to voluntary – as opposed to legally mandated – unbundling of its network.  If successful, the regulatory implications would be significant.

The regulatory importance of Google’s network is one of the compelling reasons why Boulder is an attractive destination for a Google build-out.  In particular, CU’s Silicon Flatirons Center would be a natural forum where policy implications could be analyzed.  Housed within Colorado Law School, Silicon Flatirons is a national thought leader which elevates debate around technology policy issues.

Silicon Flatirons could host a series of conferences, roundtables, and other conversations focused on the regulatory upshots of the ultra-fast, open access network.  Discussions concerning Google’s network would additionally examine innovation, challenges and impacts, network economics, as well as other regulatory lessons associated with high-speed network deployment.  Such thoughtful policy debate around broadband is needed.  As stated in the Federal Communications Commission’s recently released National Broadband Plan, high-speed broadband connectivity is a fundamental part of living life in the modern world.   There are critical questions, however, concerning the role of policymakers promoting faster and more available networks.

SFC has a history of fostering lively and intelligent discussion involving varied groups such as FCC Commissioners, competing network providers, public interest groups, as well as lawyers and academics.  Indeed, “network neutrality” and the “Four Internet Freedoms” speech were first presented at Silicon Flatirons events.   Silicon Flatirons’ events, and the scholarship stemming from these events, would inject thoughtful analysis on a national stage and help provide the tools and information needed to inform and support the goals put forth by the FCC in the National Broadband Plan.

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Why Boulder?

Filed Under: Blog by millimanMar.12, 2010Tags:  ,

Boulder will set trends in technology that the rest of the nation and the world follows.  We have an international reputation as environmental leaders, high-tech innovators, and entrepreneurs.  Boulder is a community that embraces new ideas and shares lessons learned with partners around the world.  Like Google, Boulder is a conduit for global information exchange and a pioneer in creative solutions.

Our community is excited and our leaders are ready!  We are working with professionals from the city’s numerous tech firms, university, federal labs, and major industries to showcase Boulder and demonstrate that we are the right choice for Google.

  • Reputation – Boulder has an international presence. Boulder has the attention of world leaders. Boulder is a top 10 destination for business, tourism, and quality of life.
  • Location – Boulder’s iconic backdrop is more than aesthetic. We’re a city of 100,000 people surrounded by open space and the Rocky Mountains with a variety of dense rock, rivers, mountains and plains for real-world application of Internet connections.
  • Community – Boulder has a mix of highly educated people, small and large businesses, and a highly engaged population with a strong appetite for innovation and technology.
  • Stability – Boulder is the calm in an economic storm. While the nation faces high unemployment, our community remains strong and well below national averages. No one industry represents more than 20% of our local economy.

Our residents:

  • A very highly educated population:  69% have bachelor’s degree or higher vs. 28% of US population (2008 American Community Survey)
  • 96% of our residents have access to the Internet, compared to roughly 73% of US residents (2007 City of Boulder Community Survey)
  • An estimated 10% of our residents have home-based businesses.  Over 1/4 of our workers report they work from home at least some of the time.

Our businesses:

  • One of the nation’s highest concentrations of advanced technology employment (7.8 times the national average). Key industries are aerospace, biosciences, IT, and renewable energy.  The Boulder MSA has the highest concentration of software engineers in the nation and a very high concentration of employees in the biosciences industry (6.4 times national average).
  • A center for innovation: Nationally, the Boulder MSA ranks #3 in the number of inventors and #5 in the number of patents issued per 1,000 residents (National Science Foundation study, 2005). The #1 category for patents: computer hardware (24.1%)  A significant percentage of venture capital investment in Colorado goes to Boulder companies.
  • Home to 16 federally funded research labs (over 2,500 workers), including global leaders in climate, weather, geophysical, measurement, telecommunication and renewable energy research.
  • Unemployment has remained consistently lower than state and national averages.
  • Home to the $100 million SmartGridCity™, the nation’s first fully integrated electricity system.

Our connections to the regional, national, and international community:

  • Testing a system in Boulder provides exposure beyond the city’s residents and businesses:  major companies have offices in Boulder (IBM, Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace), 2/3 of Boulder’s workers live outside the city, many business visitors, several major trade groups (e.g., Outdoor Industry Assoc., International Mountain Biking Assoc.) and publishers
  • The Region – Boulder is uniquely positioned as a separate home rule municipality to host Google fiber, but its proximity to smaller municipalities and the regional area of Boulder and Broomfield Counties allow inclusion of Boulder in a wider scope project or as an option for future expansion.
  • We are known for being on the cutting edge: Climate Action Plan, LOHAS, Smart Grid City, photonics, nanotechnology, Real D
  • International and national press attention (see web link)
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