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Leaders say Google Fiber Network could transform MemphisMar 21, 2010 (The Commercial Appeal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- If enthusiasm counts for anything in this city's quest for a Google Fiber Network, Memphis should finish far above any other municipal contenders, supporters say. What with high-profile support from such disparate cheerleaders as Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and film director Spike Lee, YouTube videos from citizens and various Web sites, the Bluff City certainly appears to be in the running. In addition, a Facebook page has attracted thousands of fans and folks are uploading video pleas touting Memphis as the logical choice and personal favorite. And the campaign has been endorsed by The Commercial Appeal, which will run a series of ads supporting the campaign. But what exactly would it mean for the city if Google chooses Memphis? And what about cost? For starters, the Google experiment promises incredibly fast Internet connections to the communities that are selected. At one gigabit per second, the proposed service would be from 100 to 1,000 times faster than what most folks currently use. The plan calls for Google to provide service for at least 50,000 -- and up to 500,000 -- people in the selected communities. Google touts that capability in a variety of ways, such as allowing doctors to reach out to rural patients via the Web, helping students participate in more interactive global distance learning and enabling viewers to download high definition movies in minutes. As for cost, local leaders say there won't be any, at least on the city's end. Google has agreed to build the networks and then charge nominal fees for service. And because Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division owns 100 percent of the poles and utility rights of way, there would be fewer negotiation hurdles for Google. That should give Memphis an advantage, said Russell Ingram, president of the Memphis Coalition for Advanced Networking. "The bottom line is that if Google comes to town, there will be some digging and they're likely to ask MLGW to lease some of their fiber assets." "There's no indication that this would necessitate any matching investment scenario involving the city. It's purely beneficial." But the simple fact is it's impossible to map out the full extent of the project's possibilities. "When everyone had dial-up, sites like YouTube couldn't happen," said Meka Egwuekwe, senior architect at Lokion and the person responsible for getting Spike Lee to record a brief video encouraging Google to select Memphis and a contributor to Hook Memphis Up. "In the same way, with this high-speed access there are so many possibilities, so many things that we can't even imagine now, but that have the power to completely and positively transform Memphis." In addition, local entrepreneurs believe the fiber network could lead to a technological rebirth for the city and boost medical research. "From the perspective of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, Google Fiber represents a major opportunity for Memphis to take a lead in the development and commercialization of new products and services," said Eric Mathews, co-founder of Mercury Technology Labs and a founder of LaunchMemphis. "Google Fiber also would leverage the education investment made by the Gates Foundation in Memphis acting as a force multiplier for change in our city." The implications could also prove substantial for area nonprofits, said Tal Frankfurt, founder of Cloud For Good. His company specializes in helping nonprofits use cloud computing technology to lower operational costs and increase network capabilities. "The Google network could benefit underserved communities, and it allow nonprofits to collaborate more easily with each other, access records faster and reach more donors," Frankfurt said. "All the technological magic is already out there in the clouds, and having this network come to Memphis would enable more people to access it." Meanwhile, Internet service providers AT&T and Comcast have been tight-lipped about how superfast service from Google might affect them, instead adopting a wait-and-see strategy. "We look forward to learning more about the experiment," said Otha Brandon, director of government affairs for Comcast. "We'll continue to invest in the city by enhancing our Internet speeds, products and services." Cathy Lewandowski, AT&T market manager for Tennessee and Kentucky said, "Five years ago, less than 25 percent of U.S. households had broadband. Today, it's more than 60 percent and broadband usage is surging. We are confident our customers recognize that they receive superior services, features and reliability, at real value." To help attract Google's attention, Ingram is encouraging citizens to visit MemphisGoogle.net and show their support. But time is running short. Cities have only until Friday to make a pitch. "Mayor Wharton has shown great vision in pursuing this and the people of Memphis are coming together in remarkable ways," Ingram said. "This could prove a wonderfully positive tipping point for the City of Good Abode." -- James Dowd: 529-2737 Memphis speaks What Memphians are saying about the Google Fiber Network: Meka Egwuekwe, senior architect at Lokion: "This will better position us to tackle poverty by reaching people in new ways and help us bridge the digital divide." Tal Frankfurt, founder of Cloud for Good: "This could help level the playing field for local nonprofits by boosting their visibility and reducing their costs." Kerry Hayes, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton's special assistant for research and innovation: "If it comes to pass, and that's a long, long way off, it will open up a lot of avenues for Memphis. It won't be a panacea or a silver bullet to take care of every problem we have, but it'll be a big tool in helping us move progressively forward." Russell Ingram, president of MCAN: "There's no downside, but there's a great potential benefit in community development and attracting young, technical talent to our city." Eric Mathews, co-founder of Mercury Technology Labs and a founder of LaunchMemphis: "The relevant question is not so much how much good we might get out of a Google Fiber Network, but rather how much we might miss out on if we don't get it." Joe Pepe, publisher of The Commercial Appeal: "Our city could move from lagging to leading in terms of citizen to broadband Internet access. That would help us deal with our educational challenges, workforce development issues, and economic growth. For The Commercial Appeal, we see the high-speed broadband Internet as an opportunity for us to deliver more high-quality local news content in digital formats. We're the leading local news provider in Memphis and the Google broadband network would give us a new tool to get that news to our readers." To see more of The Commercial Appeal or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.commercialappeal.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |