It’s a decision techies have pined about. A scenario speed enthusiasts have dreamed.
Jacksonville is poised to join rarefied air with Wednesday’s announcement that Google Fiber is considering bringing its ultra-fast broadband network to town.
Google Fiber could bring up to 1,000 megabits per second compared to typical broadband speeds of about 11 megabits per second.
That means faster downloads for TV shows, movies and music and quicker speeds for businesses to work. And the competition could lower its prices.
What’s that mean for a city? A lot, actually.
“The No. 1 thing is sort of the ‘coolness’ factor,” said Wayne Parker, chief administrative officer for Provo, Utah. “A major technology company wants to invest in your city.”
Provo is one of three cities in the U.S. that has the service up and running, joining Kansas City and Austin, Texas.
For Provo, having Google Fiber in town means more than just “cool,” though, explains Parker.
The city long had a budding entrepreneur scene, Parker said, but it’s become much more vibrant since Google Fiber began in late 2013.
Instead of using incentives to bring business, he thinks entrepreneurs will stay in the city and it will organically grow.
Some small businesses there couldn’t afford traditional high-speed until Google Fiber arrived. Not only does it offer a more affordable service at $100 a month, Google Fiber has also caused competitors Comcast and CenturyLink to lower prices and improve their service.
Google Fiber helped boost the Provo Accelerated program, designed to implement technology-related services that benefit areas like education, entrepreneurship and health care.
Parker uses education as an example. Google is working with Provo officials to ensure high-speed technology is incorporated into five elementary schools being built.
High schools also have programs that link with Kansas City and Austin classrooms.
Mayor Lenny Curry and Google officials made the announcement Tuesday the company was exploring Jacksonville as an option.
“It’s all about speed these days,” said Curry.
The city was one of 1,100 to apply for the fiber-optic program when it was launched five years ago.
The company approached city leadership in the past several months about the program and will evaluate options over the next several months.
Part of that evaluation will look at the ease of permitting such a project, along with planning and engineering design.
A decision would likely come in the next several months, although history shows it could be favorable.
The company has never said no to a city after exploring it as an option, said Ashley Kroh, Google Fiber Southeast Regional lead.
Kroh said Jacksonville is appealing because of its diverse industry, thriving job market, entrepreneur scene and density of different types of homes. The company funds the projects, but does not disclose costs.
Provo was a distinct case in Google Fiber’s expansion. The city in 2003 built municipal fiber-optic lines that were then sold to a private company, which later defaulted. Google Fiber purchased the lines for $1 and updated them.
Because most of the infrastructure already was in place, Parker said, the company was able to reduce hookup fees to $30 for basic Internet service. That option provides up to 5 megabits per second downloads for free.
That’s also been a key boost for Provo, Parker said. Residents in poorer communities who might not be able to afford Internet now have free access after paying a $300 construction fee.
In addition to the free basic plan, the company offers the faster Internet option for $70 a month and an Internet and TV package for $130 a month. The same packages are offered in Kansas City and Provo.
In Jacksonville, Comcast for $110 a month offers a TV and Internet package with speeds of 75 megabits per second.
While Provo didn’t have to pay for infrastructure, it did have to rework permitting processes to meet Google Fiber’s needs. Ultimately, that improved the city’s overall permitting process, Parker said.
But, Parker has no complaints. It’s been a boon in Provo and the possibility of such a service coming to Jacksonville should have people excited, he said.
“It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come to every city,” he said. “It’s a huge vote of confidence.”
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