KC Gets Ready for Google Fiber

KC, KS mayor Joe Reardon (left) and KC, MO mayor  Sly James
at Google Fiber launch (photo from Google)

Google Fiber is a broadband network which, according to a story in siliconvalley.com, offers speeds of one gigabit. That translates to "100 times faster than the average broadband connection." Google chose Kansas City (both Missouri and Kansas) as its metro experimental animal for Fiber's initial launch. The presumed gold in this product is the relationship between broadband speed and productive endeavor. Most interested parties have touted the broadband upgrade as a launching point for new enterprise, innovative work, and overall civic ben essere. Those assertions, however, don't parallel the service's proposed focus, which is "primarily...residential homes, along with some community organizations like schools and libraries."

In fact, Google has been far from revealing about its intentions with its eponymous Fiber service. (A dedicated Google webpage and related blog provide some thin details.) Google has, according to the siliconvalley.com story, local officials "in the dark" concerning issues such as pricing plans and launch date. "Google officials have only said," according to the article, "there will be a 'major announcement' this summer."

(Image from deadline.com)

Speculation about Google Fiber includes its connection to the launch of Google TV. A June 5th post in engadget com noted a GFHD100 IP set-top box has been registered with the FCC. According to a cable industry analyst quoted in a Kansas City Star story on the registration, the box is a fundamental step for an enterprise to sell television packages. The Star's article also pointed out that Google applied "for an FCC license for an 'antenna farm' in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Such a collection of satellite dishes could be critical for capturing commercial television programming. The company has also gained licenses in Kansas and Missouri to sell television service."

I'll be visiting Kansas City this summer, and I'll try to learn more about Google Fiber and its impact on the metro area and its people.

PS. The July 27th online edition of The Washington Post includes an article outlining Google Fiber's service options to residential customers. Curiously, Google chose not to include business-oriented services at this time.

UK Broadband Speeds Rarely Reach Advertised Levels

Image from BBC Depicts Broadband Speeds at Various Distances

As reported in the BBC, a recent British study revealed that stated UK broadband speeds, like a poorly maintained automobile engine, don't quite perform up to published standards. Unsurprisingly, the slowest times paralleled those of peak usage. Also, rural areas of Britain have lousy service, something their country cousins in the United States know from unfortunate experience.

With the exponential growth of broadband-needy devices, the question of service is rapidly becoming a question of money and location. Already, our local cable provider has talked up its "premium" service, featuring "faster" connection speeds. The rationing of broadband is moving quietly into homes, businesses, schools. Those enterprises that control distribution and access have historically been able to charge tolls. They also don't like to lose control: a loose grip on the situation is what these firms desire.

It may be too much to hope for truth in broadband advertising. Better we should keep in mind that we should be "shocked that there's gambling in the casino." Right.