Three more U.S. cities have been named as possibles for high-speed Internet service in the expansion of Google Fiber: Tampa, Jacksonville and Oklahoma City.
In a statement that refers to the trio as growing tech hubs, Jill Szuchmacher, director of Fiber expansion, explained the “exploration process” the cities are embarking on with the Internet giant:
We’ll study factors that may impact construction, like local infrastructure and housing density. City leaders will use our checklist to share key information such as maps of water and electricity lines. Early preparations not only help with our decision-making process — they help cities lay the groundwork for any service provider to enter the market.
“We have a responsibility to embolden the entrepreneurial spirit, help our businesses compete on a global scale, and make it easier and faster to turn new ideas in to new enterprises,” Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said. “Our digital infrastructure is just as crucial to our economic future as our transportation infrastructure — it is how we connect to the world. And Google Fiber, along the many other projects emerging in Tampa, will help us lead the way in global competitiveness.” The Florida city recently announced another ambitious project: It is partnering with developers to turn a 40-acre waterfront area downtown into a “Well-Certified” district” designed around health.
Earlier this year a Google Fiber exec blamed bureaucracy for the service’s slower-than-expected rollout (currently, it’s in Austin, Kansas City and Provo, Utah), saying, “If you make it easy, we will come. If you make it hard, enjoy your Time Warner Cable.”
“City leaders like Mayor Buckhorn have taken a big step to see what they can do to bring superfast fiber networks to residents and businesses,” Szuchmacher said yesterday.
In September, Google Fiber announced it would work with Irvine, California, Louisville and San Diego on service potential too. Here’s the latest map of current service and expansion plans.
(Map: Google)
Marielle Mondon is an editor and freelance journalist in Philadelphia. Her work has appeared in Philadelphia City Paper, Wild Magazine, and PolicyMic. She previously reported on communities in Northern Manhattan while earning an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.
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