Google Ultra-High-Speed Broadband for Communities

Google is planning to build ultra-high speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the country. The search giant's plan is to invest a few billion dollars to provide a few lucky communities with a fiber-to-the-home broadband network offering speeds of one gigabit per second. This connection would be 2,000% faster than the fastest connection currently available to Baltimore residents!

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake fully supports Baltimore’s bid for the high-speed service, seeing great potential to enhance economic development, education, and public safety. Students in Baltimore City Public Schools could benefit from high-speed Internet service to build on their progress—and bridge the digital divide in Baltimore. Our world-class medical institutions could see gains in lifesaving and life-enhancing medical technology and information sharing.

Google is asking local governments and residents to express their interest in the fiber optic trial, and to provide information about their community by completing a request for information by March 26, 2010.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Baltimore technology advocates have launched a website, BmoreFiber.com, which is documenting the extent of support for bringing the project to Baltimore. BmoreFiber.com needs the help of all Baltimore residents to attract Google’s investment in broadband fiber to Baltimore.

If you would like to see Google's ultra-high-speed broadband come to Baltimore, then go to the website, log in your location, and fill out a short questionnaire about your current Internet service. Community leaders are encouraged to submit a community response to the “Google Fiber for Communities” Request for Information. The responses on the BmoreFiber.com website will be submitted as part of the City’s application to Google, and this map will demonstrate the level of community support and the number of potential users.

A high-speed broadband network presents an outstanding opportunity for Baltimore. Across the city, community enthusiasm and support for Google's community broadband effort is growing.

Let's show Google that Baltimore is ready for ultra-fast broadband Internet service!