Google moves forward with Fiber expansion plans

Google has said that all of the 34 cities where it is discussing expanding its Google Fiber broadband scheme have now largely completed their ‘checklist’ of launch requirements. 

In an update on the progress of its superfast broadband scheme, Google said that it will now start to work with the cities to tie up “checklist-related loose ends”  – such as draft agreements that will let Google place “fiber huts” on city land – before deciding which cities will be included in the project.

“We may spend some time working together to figure out an ideal permitting process that would be fast and efficient. And, as we review the information that cities have already provided, like infrastructure maps, we’ll probably have a lot of follow-up questions,” said Jill Szuchmacher from the Google Fiber expansion team in a company blog post.

Google said it will also need to work with either the city or state to get a video franchise agreement that would grant it permission to build a local network, and may need to need pole-attachment agreements with local utility firms and other companies.

“After all of these steps, we’ll start drawing up construction blueprints for local fiber networks. These detailed designs will help us see how complex it would be to build in each city, and will be used as we make our final decisions,” said Szuchmacher.

Google is due to announce which new cities will get Google Fiber by the end of the year. The 34 under consideration are spread across nine metro areas – Portland, San Jose, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, San Antonio, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh-Dunham.

Google has already rolled out Gigabit-speed broadband – offering internet and fibre-powered TV services – in Kansas City, Austin and Provo.