Google Fiber, city examine ultrafast Internet

Louisville has moved near the head of the line among the dozens of communities coveting a fiber-optics network developed by Google Fiber that could provide ultrafast Internet service.

The fiber network, if installed, would greatly increase the speed for downloading material from the Internet, streaming movies, gaming and more. It also would be a boon for local business and economic development that could benefit from the gigabit per second (1,000 megabits) broadband speed, Mayor Greg Fischer said. The average broadband speed in the country is 11.9 Mbps.

Fischer said Google Fiber will provide Internet access at least 20 times faster than conventional broadband and that the Google system will not only be faster but also more reliable.

It's still early and no deal is certain, but Fischer noted that Google Fiber has never walked away from a city it had identified as a potential market.

Google Fiber's identification of Louisville as a potential market was announced Thursday at a news conference at the Code Louisville training office on Floyd Street downtown.

"We are beginning a conversation. There's lots to be decided," Jill Szuchmacher, director of Google Fiber expansion, said in a phone interview from her New York City office.

Szuchmacher said that Google typically charges customers $70 a month for Internet service and $130 a month for both Internet and television service. It does not provide telephone service, she said.

Google Fiber, a 5-year-old arm of the vast Google organization, has undertaken installation of high-speed, fiber-optics networks in metro Kansas City, in Austin, Texas, and in Provo, Utah. It has networks under construction in Nashville, Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, N.C., as well as in Atlanta, Salt Lake City and San Antonio.

At the news conference, Fischer said his administration is starting to work with Google Fiber to explore the possibility of building a new superfast broadband network in the city.

Fischer said that improving broadband speeds has been a priority since he became mayor in 2011, "because fast Internet service is as critical for economic growth and innovation as roads, bridges, water and other infrastructure has been in the past."

And Szuchmacher acknowledged that Fischer's interest in pursuing high-speed Internet access was a factor in Google Fiber's decision to consider Louisville for service. She noted that Fischer was one of numerous city officials to respond to an early Google Fiber solicitation of interest in superfast broadband several years ago.

"Today is a big step forward to bringing very high-speed Internet to homes and business in our city, which is critical to job growth and innovation," Fischer said. "From businesses in Louisville that need super-computing speeds to homes that want streaming of very high-definition movies, this has the potential to impact" nearly every part of the city.

Kent Oyler, president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc., the metro chamber of commerce, said that "as a guy who has co-founded two broadband companies, I can assure you that high-speed internet access is critical for economic development. Our existing providers are also aggressively expanding their own bandwidth to give consumers a full array of options. Louisville is rapidly improving its attractiveness to new and existing businesses and talent."

"Abundant high-speed Internet can help communities grow stronger, laying a foundation for innovation and economic growth," said Szuchmacher. "We look forward to working side by side with Louisville in the coming months to explore if we can bring Google Fiber to the city, and help write the next chapter of the Internet, together, on gigabit speeds."

Google Fiber announced that along with Louisville, it is also exploring service in two other cities — San Diego and Irvine, Calif.

The Google Fiber announcement is critical for the city, Fischer said, because consumer demand for faster Internet speeds is at an all-time high.

Fischer noted that many of the things people love to do online — from gaming to streaming new movies — 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 prime time, he indicated.

Google will work closely with Fischer and city leaders on a joint planning process to explore what it would take to build a fiber-optics network capable of delivering these gigabit speeds throughout Louisville

Google officials will begin compiling a detailed study of local factors that might affect construction plans. They will look at local topography, housing density, and the condition of existing infrastructure.

Simultaneously, Louisville officials are to complete a checklist of items — such as providing a map of existing utility lines — that will pave the way for a large-scale fiber network construction.

Ashley Kroh, a spokeswoman for Google Fiber's Southeast Region, said at the news conference that the planning process will take at least several months.

But, "once we complete this planning process, we'll determine if we can bring Google Fiber to Louisville. ... Every city is different and will move on a unique timeline, so we'll keep in touch with residents about our progress along the way," Szuchmacher said. "And regardless of whether Google Fiber comes to the region, this process gives cities a head start jn welcoming any gigabit provider to the area."

Google said in a fact sheet that it released about the process that "we need to install thousand of miles of fiber--but we can't just put it wherever we want. First, we have to design the network, street by street, using information cities submitted during the checklist process and our own detailed study. Then we create a map of where we can put our (fiber), accounting for existing infrastructure such as utility poles and underground conduit."

Google said the initial fiber will go around the outer reaches of the community, after which "fiber huts" will be developed along the fiber ring, followed by the rest of the network.

Google may have to pay a fee for the right to lay lines along public rights-of-way.

Szuchmacher said that it's too early to say where the installation of lines would begin, or how long it would take to install a system. She said that, typically, households are connected to the system as the installation progresses.

Google would own the facilities that it installs, she said. Officials said the fiber lines would be both above and below ground.

Fischer said that the city would not have to open up or offer the right to lay fiber-optics lines to competitors; such as Time Warner and AT&T — both of which have a heavy stake in the Louisville communications business.

Any franchise deal with a fiber-optics provider would need Louisville Metro Council approval.

The city recently disclosed that at least three other companies have expressed interest in building a local fiber-optics network in some part, or all, of the community. But Fischer said "we're not holding our breath" that one of them will proceed with installation. The three companies are BluegrassNet, SiFi Networks and FiberTech Networks.

"We'll continue to talk to anybody," Fischer said, but he added that Google Fiber has the ability to build the system, calling the company "highly capable and capitalized. That is why this is a big deal. We intend to be successful with them."

People can follow the Louisville project at www.googlefiberblog.blogspot.com.

Reporter Sheldon S. Shafer can be reached at (502) 582-7089, or via email at sshafer@courier-journal.com.

HIGHLIGHTS

►Google will work closely with Louisville leaders on a joint planning process to explore what it would take to build a fiber-optics network

►The fiber-optics system can provide broadband speeds of a gigabit per second, or 1,000 Mbps . Average download speed in Louisville is 11.9 Mbps.

►The monthly residential costs in other cities with the service is $130 for TV and Internet or $70 for only Internet

►Other cities currently being considered for service include San Diego and Irvine, Calif.

WHAT'S NEXT

►Google officials will begin compiling a detailed study of local factors that might affect construction plans. They will look at local topography, housing density, and the condition of existing infrastructure.

►Louisville officials are to complete a checklist of items — such as providing a map of existing utility lines — that will pave the way for a large-scale fiber network construction.