Google Fiber Asheville :: Official Webite

[tweetmeme source="googleavl" only_single=false]The Golden Leaf foundation recently announced a $24 million grant for building out broadband networks in rural North Carolina counties. The grant is aimed to help secure $78 million in matching Federal funds – the combined total for this program is $111 million.

That is a large enough sum to install quite a bit of new fiber, but I’m not clear on the details of how the program operates or exactly what it will be helping to build out.

Several Western North Carolina counties are a part of the program, including Buncombe.

Are there any readers out there want to chime in and explain in more detail how these funds can help us build open access fiber networks in our area?

The Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative will greatly increase the broadband capacity and stabilize costs for 179 public school systems, community college campuses, libraries, universities, and other public institutions through direct connections to the existing North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN). MCNC has operated NCREN for the last quarter century. In January 2010, MCNC received $40M in the first round of federal funding to build out NCREN in the southeast and western portion of North Carolina.

In addition to supporting key community anchor institutions, consumers and small businesses will benefit from agreements among MCNC and several private providers that will result in more broadband options for last-mile and wholesale connections.

Here’s the full Golden Leaf press release.

[tweetmeme source="googleavl" only_single=false]Cost is only part of the equation, as Dave Troy over in Baltimore explains in his post, “Fiber Economics.”

What are the real economics of broadband infrastructure? It’s not so simple as market opportunity, investment, and subscribers; Verizon and Comcast have different regulatory histories and see the world differently. Google, as a potential new entrant, has completely different motivations.

Let’s take a look at the regulatory background, and then get a sense of what’s really motivating Verizon, Comcast, and Google.

He goes on from there – hit this link to read the whole post.

You can also check out, “Why is Google building a fiber network now,” as posted here several days ago. The two posts illustrate the same theme, but with slightly different perspectives.

[tweetmeme source="googleavl" only_single=false]Wally Bowen, Executive Director at MAIN, published this editorial in the March 26th Citizen Times:

“Asheville’s Visionary Past a Good Fit for Google’s Future”

Asheville is flush with broadband fever as it compiles creative ideas to compete for Google’s ultra-fast, fiber-to-the-home network.

On Feb. 10, Google announced plans to build one or more “trial” networks to showcase innovative ways people can use the Internet at speeds “100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today.”

While the reasons for Asheville being an ideal site for a Google network are many, what most sets us apart is our commitment to self-help and social justice.

For more than 100 years, organizations like the YMI Cultural Center and the YWCA have kept the city’s torch of social justice burning, even when it was not popular to do so. Continue reading →

[tweetmeme source="googleavl" only_single=false]Google’s FAQ says they reserve the right to examine nominations that come in after the deadline. Their nomination page is also still live. Thus, if you’ve just decided to nominate Asheville, go ahead. We appreciate the support.

Google’s Nomination form.

Thanks to our reader Ev who pointed this out.

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Here is another response video from the city of Asheville. I love to see these keep pouring in. We can always keep adding to the YouTube group at http://youtube.com/group/googleavl.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWLNoG72EWk]