Google Fiber Officially Begins "Exploration" in Jacksonville

[TheCat]

Watch the press conference on link:

https://www.periscope.tv/CityofJax/1ZkKzPkLQQXJv

[RattlerGator]

Hmmmmm . . . the momentum train keeps rolling.

[UNFurbanist]

WOW that's awesome! Big news if they expand here because tech companies will follow!

[TheCat]

Press Release:

GOOGLE FIBER CONSIDERING JACKSONVILLE FOR
ULTRA HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS


JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 28, 2015 – Today, Mayor Lenny Curry joined Google Fiber representatives for an announcement revealing that if selected, Jacksonville would be one of the first cities in the state of Florida to receive a brand new superfast broadband network.

Improving broadband speeds and choice for Jacksonville residents are integral to its growth. Today's average American broadband speed is 11.7 Megabits per second. In contrast, Google Fiber could bring Jacksonville residents access to gigabit Internet up to 1,000 Megabits per second—or up to 85 times faster than average speeds in America.

"In this increasingly competitive and global economy, access to quality and high-speed internet service is crucial to making sure Jacksonville is well-placed for continued economic growth," said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. "Jacksonville is quickly growing as a tech and innovation hub for our region, and access to a robust fiber-optic network like Google Fiber will put us in a stronger position. I am incredibly excited to work with Google and other city leaders to explore this opportunity."

Consumer demand for faster Internet speeds is at an all-time high. Many of the things people love to do online — from gaming to streaming — require a lot of bandwidth. Families want faster speeds at home to do what they love to do on the Web, without buffering or fighting over bandwidth during primetime. And fiber networks aren't just about meeting today's speed needs. This year, the White House made faster Internet speeds a priority, citing the need to drive innovation, foster investment in new industries, and ensure that America is competitive in the global economy. The next leap in Internet speeds — to gigabit Internet — will lead to innovation that's unimaginable today.

"Abundant high-speed Internet can help communities grow stronger, laying a foundation for innovation and economic growth," said Jill Szuchmacher, Director of Expansion, Google Fiber. "City leaders like Mayor Curry have taken a big step to see what they can do to bring superfast fiber networks to residents and businesses. We look forward to working side-by-side with Jacksonville in the coming months to explore the possibility of bringing Google Fiber to the city."

Starting this week, Google will work closely with Mayor Curry and city leaders on a joint planning process to explore what it would take to build a brand new fiber-optic network capable of delivering these gigabit speeds throughout Jacksonville. Google will begin compiling a detailed study of local factors that may include construction plans. Simultaneously, Mayor Curry and city leaders will meet with Google executives to discuss the plans required to prepare the city for a fiber project of this scale.

Google Fiber is an Internet and TV service that provides Internet connectivity up to 1 gigabit — 85 times faster than average speeds in America, along with hundreds of HD TV channels. Google Fiber is currently available in Kansas City, KS; Kansas City, MO; Provo, UT; and Austin, TX. Google Fiber is in the process of expanding to six additional metro areas: Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Nashville, TN; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Salt Lake City, UT; and San Antonio, TX.

For more information about this announcement, visit the Google Fiber blog.

###

[jaxlore]

Yep we need more tech!

[Tacachale]

That would be awesome. I really, really wish there was another option in my area besides Comcast.

[coredumped]

Sign up for updates when it's available at your address:
https://fiber.google.com/cities/jacksonville/

[spuwho]

Having the fastest growing international NAP in downtown Jacksonville plays a role in this decision.

Choices on content with speed is a good thing.

However, Google doesnt do this out of the goodness of their heart, they want to collect data to push ads.  More fiber, more ads.

While Google Fiber has good PR cache, I havent seen any data that the service attracts new business.

Frankly the growth of ads on YouTube is reaching the breaking point. I am about ready to drop it.

[southsider1015]

I brought up the idea about Google Fiber over a year ago, and got laughed at.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=21113.0

Now, all of a sudden, its a great idea?

[spuwho]

I brought up the idea about Google Fiber over a year ago, and got laughed at.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=21113.0

Now, all of a sudden, its a great idea?

Southsider,

no laughs here, I think I was pretty clear what Google needs.

But some things have changed in the city since your post, things that didnt exist before.

[RattlerGator]

That, and the fact that the folks who are eternally dissatisfied with Jacksonville are most often dismissive (and reflexively so) of Jax possibilities. There's no real inferiority complex in Jax; that complex is primarily with a select crowd that wants the city to apologize for being very Southern, very Florida and not something entirely inappropriate for our climate & tastes. But there are fewer and fewer of these folks every day.

Goodness of the heart? What? spuwho, Google has a business to run. And that business has provided incredible benefits to us. Of course they're in it for themselves, too.

Me? I'm hopeful our ahead-of-the-curve Jaguars owner, 4th richest in the NFL, does something creative and unique with them with his new combination indoor practice facility complex & entertainment venue that they're clearly envisioning jump-starting the Shipyards development.

[spuwho]

Rattler,

I have heard/seen similar pleas for Google Fiber in other cities. Most of them void of economic thought, more about civic pride.

That is what drives the "goodness" remark.

[Gators312]

As exciting as this is, what timeframe can we really expect before we see widespread implementation in Duval?  5yrs or 10?

My sister lives in KC suburb of Lee's Summit, and they just got it this month in their area.  When did Google fiber start the build out in KC?

[Josh]

As exciting as this is, what can we expect before we see widespread implementation in Duval?  5yrs or 10?

My sister lives in KC suburb of Lee's Summit, and they just got it this month in their area.  When did Google fiber start the build out in KC?

The first customers in KC got service at the beginning of the year.

Rollout to the burbs is slow, so yeah, it's gonna be a long time before its widespread here given our density. And that's after all of the red tape is handled and service begins.

[Dapperdan]

IKEA  effect?? lol