Google to build ultra-fast broadband networks. Would you like to see a network in your community?

Google http://www.google.com plans to build experimental, ultra-fast Internet networks in a handful of communities around the country.

The search company said Wednesday that its fiber-optic broadband networks will deliver speeds of 1 gigabit per second to as many as 500,000 Americans. Google says those systems will be more than 100 times faster than the networks that most Americans have access to today.

In a blog post, the company said the networks will let consumers download a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes and allow rural health clinics to send 3-D medical images over the Web. The company said the service would be offered at a "competitive price," but did not provide specifics.

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-02-10-google-broadband_N.htm

***

Get involved: Request for information

Google is asking local governments and residents to express their interest in the fiber optic trial, and to provide information about their community by completing our request for information. http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options

Local governments submitting RFIs must do so via the interactive response forms on the company’s Web site. Google encourages local governments to persuade nongovernmental community entities to submit concurrent RFIs to bolster the RFIs submitted by their partnering governments.

***

Municipalities to Compete for Google Broadband Networks http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/744797