Google Fiber excites Nashville with possibilities

When Nashville tech leaders share ideas of what Google Fiber could lead to in Nashville, they point to progress in online learning, software programming, workforce development, health care and entrepreneurship.

Along with that, there are many unknown possibilities.

"There are so many things we haven't even really thought about because it hasn't been possible up until now," said Marcus Whitney, president of business incubator Jumpstart Foundry. "Now that we know we can throw around gigabytes within seconds and minutes, it's going to completely change the way we think about using the Internet."

Google announced Tuesday it is building its fiber network in Nashville, bringing faster Internet connection and a TV service to residents as it upsets the playing field among local Internet and cable companies. Google Fiber's enhanced speed — as much as 100 times faster than traditional broadband — has been promoted by city leaders, business executives and residents for its potential impact on business operations, education and the overall economy, and the announcement was cheered across social media channels throughout the day.

A Google Fiber network further establishes Nashville as an advanced tech city that, with this new infrastructure, can better accommodate its population of entrepreneurs and software developers, as well as the growing number of individuals working remotely from their homes.

"We have seen firsthand how speedy Internet can reshape communities, driving economic growth, emerging start-up scenes and new ways of using technology to improve lives," said Kevin Lo, Google Fiber director of business operations. "Fiber will help put Nashville on par with the fastest cities in the world."

Nearly a year ago, Google announced it was considering expanding fiber to nine metropolitan areas — Nashville; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Atlanta; San Antonio; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; Portland, Ore.; and the San Jose and South Bay area. It has been working with government leaders since its initial announcement to study their infrastructures and permitting processes. Google Fiber is already underway in Kansas City, Mo., and Kan.; Provo, Utah; and Austin, Texas.

Google's decision to also expand to Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham puts the Southeast at the forefront of the next wave of fiber. Lo cited the commitment from city leaders as he described why Nashville was chosen, as well as innovation within the city's technology, music and health-care sectors.

"Nashville has all the right ingredients to do transformative things," he said. "That's what makes it the perfect city to show the world what is possible with a gig."

Lo said the four cities Google announced for expansion were the most ready, but the other five areas are still being considered.

"It's not 'no,' it's 'not yet,'" he said.

The increased bandwidth means more seamless streaming, video conferencing, software testing and gaming for residents initially, but Google Fiber will eventually expand to small businesses as it has done in Provo and Kansas City.

"A big part of our attraction is our creativity and our entrepreneurial spirit, which includes technology, health care, digital media, entertainment and social media," said Mayor Karl Dean. "Google Fiber's presence here will enhance the work done in those fields by making collaboration, the exchange of good ideas, faster and easier. This is the city where people make things happen, and once Google Fiber is up and running they'll be able to do even more."

In a state franchise agreement, Google did not include satellite cities — Oak Hill, Forest Hills, Belle Meade, Berry Hill and Goodlettsville — in its application, but has said that it could bring services to those areas.

What happens next?

Google will need to build thousands of miles of fiber around the city, and surveyors will first begin developing the design, relying on existing utility poles and underground routes where possible. The design process could take several months, Lo said, declining to give further details on timing. In Kansas City and Austin, connection took close to 20 months.

Google typically determines which areas to extend the "last mile" of its network based on demand, the idea being that it is not cost-effective to build out the infrastructure for only a few homes. The number of residents needed to sign up is based on the density of what Google calls a "fiberhood," which is typically made up of several hundred homes.

Lo said the best way for residents to stay informed about how they can access fiber is to sign up for updates online.

With its more affordable basic broadband Internet — free after a $300 one-time installation fee, or $25 a month for 12 months — the service has been cheered for its potential to impact low-income areas that have lower connectivity rates. With access based on community demand, there is no guarantee that all neighborhoods will be reached — a rollout strategy that has potential to exacerbate or do little to address Nashville's digital divide.

Having encountered difficulties registering underserved communities in Kansas City, Google has sought to build ties with local groups as it rolls out its network there and in other cities. In Austin, Provo and Kansas City, the company says it is training students at local universities who are matched with local organizations to create digital literacy programs.

In other Google Fiber areas, city officials have selected schools, libraries and community centers for free gigabit access through the company's Community Connections program, which will help support more students and residents accessing the Internet from these types of public centers.

"We want to make sure we are able to include as many people as possible," Lo said. "It really requires that a community of interested stakeholders works together. We expect to be in Nashville for a very long time, and we hope to be an anchor in that community."

Based on experiences in other cities, price is only one of the barriers to signing people up, and bringing Google's services to all of Nashville's areas will depend on strong community outreach. With 44 percent of Metro school students lacking Internet access at home, and the Internet becoming increasingly important for education and job preparedness, this is an opportunity city leaders cannot afford to waste.

More pressure on existing providers

Even the possibility of Google Fiber has prompted local providers to up their game. AT&T announced in July that Nashville was among cities chosen for its GigaPower expansion. (AT&T backtracked in November, citing net neutrality concerns but reaffirmed its fiber plans weeks later. The work is on track.) Comcast has said it is looking to offer gigabit speed through modem technology and also recently enhanced their local retail presence, as it seeks to mend ties with frustrated customers. The company offers up to 10 gigabits per second to Nashville-area businesses, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

There's no doubt the announcement will be well received in Nashville. Since Google Fiber announced it was considering the city for its expanded network, residents have thrown their support behind the possibility, launching Facebook groups and Twitter handles to support the cause. One resident created a video campaign, featuring business leaders, artists and entrepreneurs, urging Google Fiber to come to Nashville.

In Tennessee gigabit service is already available in Chattanooga, Bristol, Tullahoma, Clarksville and Morristown through local electric power providers, rather than through the private sector.

"We've seen a great deal of entrepreneurial activity off the fiber," said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. "Chattanooga is now looked at being at the head of the curve rather than the end. That has spurred a lot of innovation."

Whitney said this kind of connectivity will help Nashville draw more talent to the area and allow entrepreneurs to work more efficiently — from work or home. The option of fiber could also fuel creation of new technology enhancing home health care through interactive video conferencing.

Some providers have argued that demand for gigabit speed does not exist enough to warrant expansion and the associated costs. But just like broadband versus dial-up Internet opened the door for new applications, this heightened speed could also facilitate more innovation. Those in gigabit locations point to examples where the connection has enhanced productivity, with leaders in Kansas City and Provo touting economic gains benefiting their residents.

"There will be all kinds of applications that grow out of having the availability of more bandwidth," said John Wark, founder of the Nashville Software School. "From the telegraph to the telephone to the Internet, we have never not found a way to use the bandwith that was made available to us. History has demonstrated that given bandwith and capacity, we'll use it."

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter @JamieMcGee_.

What is Google Fiber?

Google Fiber is a fiber-optic network that uses glass instead of traditional copper cables to transmit data as fast as 1 gigabit per second, or as much as 100 times faster than basic broadband.

How fast is gigabit speed?

One gigabit per second is the same as 1,000 megabits per second. (The average speed in the U.S. is 9.8 Mbps.) A digital movie can be bought and downloaded in less than two minutes, and high definition video can be streamed with little or no buffering. (Source: Google Fiber, citing Akamai and Netflix.)

What kind of local presence will Google have in Nashville?

Construction, engineering, design, sales and marketing teams will include thousands of people.

How can residents sign up?

Access to Google Fiber is based on demand within neighborhoods — or "fiberhoods." When enough residents in a fiberhood sign up online, a number based on density of homes, Google will provide service. To sign up for updates, visit https://fiber.google.com/cities/nashville/home/.

What if I live in an apartment building or am a landlord?

A landlord must sign an access agreement to bring Google Fiber to an apartment or condo building, with connection going to each unit. Google Fiber will then create a design plan and schedule construction. Once installed, residents will schedule a service installer to set up their connection.

How big are fiberhoods?

They include several hundred homes.

What is the earliest the service will be up and running?

It is too early to know for sure at this point, but in Austin and Kansas City, installation took more than a year.

What efforts will be made to reach out to low-income neighborhoods?

In other cities, Google has joined community leaders in door-to-door sign-up efforts. Additionally, Google offers free connection to community organizations — schools, libraries, community centers, etc. — designated by the city to receive access to fiber. In Austin as many as 100 centers were chosen.

In Austin, Provo and Kansas City, the company is working with universities to build student-led digital literacy teams to build digital skills in their communities. In Austin the city and Google Fiber are offering free access if enough residents push for the service through its "Unlocking the Connection" initiative.

Google said it is committed to focusing on digital inclusion in Nashville.

What kind of construction can the city expect?

According to a September blog concerning Austin, crews will tunnel through the city's limestone to route the fiber underground and will work on utility poles to reconfigure power lines. The company says underground construction can be disruptive and crews try to avoid interfering with existing utility lines as much as possible. The Kansas City Star has reported on resident complaints concerning busted gas lines and damaged lawns.

Will businesses gain access?

Google has focused first on residential areas, but in Kansas City and Provo, it has announced it is connecting small businesses as well and expects to do the same in Nashville.

How does Google Fiber compare to existing providers?

Google Fiber's gigabit-speed Internet costs $70. For an additional $50, residents can add Google's TV service that includes hundreds of TV channels and can store up to 500 hours of HD content. For basic broadband, which offers 5 Mbps download speeds and 1 Mbps upload speeds, residents pay a one-time $300 installation fee or $25 a month for 12 months.

Comcast offers Internet for as low as $39.95 a month for its 3 Mbps Economy plus service or as high as $114.95 a month for its Extreme service that is as fast as 105 Mbps. Comcast's Internet Plus plan is $69.95 a month and includes 25 Mbps speed and basic television. For 50 Mbps and additional channels, Comcast charges $82.95 monthly.

AT&T's offerings include Internet for as low as $46 a month for 3 Mbps speed or as much as $81 a month for 45 Mbps. TV packages range from $19 a month, with $199 installation fee, to $131 for up to 500 TV channels and DVR. In February AT&T is raising its high- speed Internet rates by $1 and TV and high-speed Internet rates as much as $5 because of the higher costs of programming.

Will the city provide services to Google Fiber, such as staffing, land, equipment or utilities?

Metro Council allows Google Fiber to use city property for hut-like structures that will hold fiber. As part of the licensing agreement, Google will pay the city an annual fee beginning at $1.60 per square foot of each hut that is typically 22 feet by 11 feet.

What about areas outside of Davidson County?

At this point, Google Fiber is planning to build in Metro Nashville.