Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Councilmember Lobbies for Google High-Speed Internet

Last week, Google Inc. announced plans to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks – Internet speeds over 100 times faster than those most Americans currently have access to – in select locations across the United States. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) is encouraging Google to make the District of Columbia one of the test locations.

Cheh recently began generating a petition requesting that Google hold their high-speed broadband trial in the city.

“I think D.C. would be a great trial location. We have universities, hospitals, and as the capital, there is a need to focus on connecting all of the different government agencies and entities,” Cheh said. “We are a major city, but small enough for the trial to be held here.”

Google’s proposed fiber-optic network would offer connection speeds of one gigabit per second and would benefit 50,000 to 500,000 people in the chosen test locations.

“We are doing this because we want to experiment with new ways to make the Web better and faster for everyone,” said James Kelly, a Google product manager, in a video published on Google’s official blog.

The blog announcement also outlined specific benefits the project could provide, including opportunities to create more advanced applications and test new ways to build fiber-optic networks. Google said the experimental networks would operate at competitive prices under an open network that would allow users to choose from multiple service providers.

Google asked local government officials and members of the public to nominate their communities as trial locations. As chair of the committee on government operations and the environment, Cheh oversees the work of the chief technology officer.

“I understand that the chief technology officer is interested in exploring this possibility and recognizes that this is a unique opportunity for the District to be on the cutting edge of broadband Internet access,” Cheh wrote in her petition.

Thus far, Cheh’s mission has been well received by the public and she hopes for continued support in the coming weeks, according to Cheh.

“We received 600 signatures in the first two days of the petition. We started with a listserv in Ward 3, but now we are reaching out to other communities too,” Cheh said.

Several other cities, including Seattle and Rochester, have expressed interest in the project. Google Inc will be accepting feedback until March 26 and will announce the winning locations later this year.”

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