Google fiber.jpg

The city council's approval would be the biggest milestone to day in Google Fiber's decision-making process for Portland, but it's not the end of the road.

(Bloomberg photo)

Google Fiber goes up for a vote Wednesday.

The Portland City Council will take up a franchise agreement with the company, voting on a deal Google and Portland reached in April. It's the biggest milestone to date in Google's plan to bring superfast gigabit Internet service to Portland, perhaps as early as 2015. (A gigabit is 1,000 megabits, roughly 100 times faster than standard Internet connections now.)

Approval of the 29-page, 10-year pact won't guarantee Google Fiber will build. Qwest won a city cable TV franchise in 2007 but neither it nor its successor, CenturyLink, ever moved forward with the video service they had contemplated.

Google says it's still evaluating local regulations, topography and logistical issues. The company says it will make a decision on serving Portland, and five surrounding suburbs (Gresham, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Beaverton and Hillsboro), by year's end. It has yet to begin formal franchise talks with those jurisdictions.

In the meantime, here are some things to know about Google Fiber as the council readies Wednesday's vote:

It's not for everyone Google Fiber plays nice with Netflix Google isn't asking for taxpayer help, but taxpayers could end up paying anyway No zombies; Blazers are TBD It ain't gonna be pretty If you live in an apartment, it's complicated Don't count on lower prices

-- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699