Google ultra high speed broadband network

On February 10, 2010, Google announced their plan to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. Google will deliver Internet speeds more than a hundred times faster than what most Americans have access to today with one gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. Google plans to offer service at a competitive price to at least fifty thousand and potentially up to five hundred thousand people.

Google's goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone. Here are some specific things that they have in mind:

• Next generation apps: Google wants to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it's creating new bandwidth-intensive killer apps and services, or other unimagined uses.
• New deployment techniques: Google will test new ways to build fiber networks, and to help inform and support deployments elsewhere, Google will share key lessons learned with the world.
• Openness and choice: Google will operate an open access network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with past advocacy, Google will manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent way.

The purpose of the ultra high speed broadband project is to experiment and learn. Google is putting out a request for information to help identify interested communities. Google welcomes responses from local government, as well as members of the public. To respond, visit http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi (on that page, scroll far right for get involved button and overview link).

Google will collect responses until March 26, 2010 and will announce their target communities later this year.