Google Fiber To Come To Provo, Utah

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Google Fiber To Come To Provo, Utah

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday April 17, 2013 @08:35AM from the stop-making-me-jealous-of-cities-i've-never-heard-of dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google announced today that they intend on purchasing the existing iProvo fiber network to make Provo the third U.S. city to have Google Fiber. If approved by the city council, implementation would begin later in 2013. 'As a part of the acquisition, we would commit to upgrade the network to gigabit technology and finish network construction so that every home along the existing iProvo network would have the opportunity to connect to Google Fiber.'" Also at SlashCloud

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Not fair to call it Google fiber by TWiTfan · 2013-04-17 08:43 · Score: 2, Informative

AFAICT, Google hasn't laid a single foot of fiber themselves. They've just been buying up existing fiber that has already been laid by earlier projects and calling it Google fiber.

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1. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-17 08:47 · Score: 1, Flamebait
  
  Google, Microsoft and Apple do the same thing. If it's something bought from someone else, they re-brand it. Examples include Google Fiber, MS-DOS and Siri.
  
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2. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-17 08:55 · Score: 1
  
  Google is connecting fiber lines directly to people's homes. They've laid plenty of fiber.
3. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by Yanzzee · 2013-04-17 08:56 · Score: 2
  
  AFAICT, Google hasn't laid a single foot of fiber themselves. They've just been buying up existing fiber that has already been laid by earlier projects and calling it Google fiber.
  The difference here being Gigabit speeds, or free 5Mbit for those that don't need the speed. Both of which will probably be a big hit in a college town, and weren't previously offered by iProvo.
4. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by tlhIngan · 2013-04-17 09:15 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Google, Microsoft and Apple do the same thing. If it's something bought from someone else, they re-brand it. Examples include Google Fiber, MS-DOS and Siri.
  Siri wasn't re-branded. It was always called Siri, named after the original company, Siri Inc, which was spun off from SRI International (Stanford Research Institute) - a company created by Stanford to commercialize Stanford's research.
  Of course, there were dozens of other things that were re-branded. Like Thunderbolt (though Apple licensed the trademark for free usage, after seeing what happened with FireWire)
5. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-17 09:20 · Score: 1
  
  You're right about Siri, my mistake. In the case of Thunderbolt, AFAIK it was developed jointly with Intel, so apart from the different name I don't think it's anything like Google Fiber.
  I guess OS X would be a better example, since Apple bought NeXT and used its OS as the basis for OS X.
  
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6. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by compro01 · 2013-04-17 10:00 · Score: 2
  
  All the Thunderbolt rights, including trademark, belong to Intel. Apple registered the trademark initially, but then gave it to Intel sometime in 2011
  
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7. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by Qzukk · 2013-04-17 10:32 · Score: 1
  
  AFAICT, Google hasn't laid a single foot of fiber themselves
  That's funny, half the rage over google fiber in Kansas was them getting permission to use power poles for stringing up fiber. Not sure what everyone was up in arms about if all that fiber was already there.
  
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8. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by dywolf · 2013-04-18 00:46 · Score: 1
  
  if that's what it takes....
  
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9. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by TWiTfan · 2013-04-18 00:56 · Score: 1
  
  Google has been buying up existing "dark fiber" networks since 2005. They've made little secret of it.
  
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10. Re:Not fair to call it Google fiber by Branciforte · 2013-04-20 05:34 · Score: 1
  
  Google is laying tons and tons of fiber.
  Google does buy up dark fiber capacity, for backbones, but that has nothing to do with the Google Fiber project in KC, Austin, and Provo.
  Tons of fiber has been installed in KC. I'm not sure about the situation in Austin. In Provo, Google is taking over the unfinished government fiber project and finishing/upgrading it.
Stop taunting us! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-17 08:48 · Score: 2, Funny

When will Google Fiber come to my city! Yes, I'll give up all my privacy to Google! You know the truth? If Google demanded I send them nude pictures so I could have gigabit Internet, I'd do it! Anything for gigabit Internet! PLEASE!!! NOW!!! PLEASE!!!
1. Re:Stop taunting us! by antdude · 2013-04-17 09:25 · Score: 2
  
  Ditto. I will show off my sexy abdomen, stinger, thorax, etc. ;)
  
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2. Re:Stop taunting us! by StormReaver · 2013-04-17 09:51 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  When will Google Fiber come to my city!
  Every time I have to talk to AT&T tech support, I make sure I mention that I really, really, really hope that Google Fiber comes to my area so I can drop AT&T.
  Recently, my UVerse modem died, requiring a replacement. After it was installed, I had to call tech support to get my static IP address reinstated. At one point, I said I was using Linux, and AT&T said they would have to stop the tech support call right there. I then said I was running Windows XP, and the tech support guy resumed being just as useless as he was before I said I was running Linux.
  I want Google to come to my city soooooooo badly.
3. Re:Stop taunting us! by egcagrac0 · 2013-04-17 10:11 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  The trouble with crowdsourcing naked pictures is that there are a lot of people out there I don't want to see naked.
  Perhaps that's their business model - pay us, or we send you more pictures of 14/f/cali guy.
4. Re:Stop taunting us! by Guppy · 2013-04-17 11:36 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Google FIber: The cure for a constipated telecom monopoly. No, seriously -- just one dose, and entrenched ISPs start running :)
Re:Funny timing with CISPA vote today... by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-17 08:48 · Score: 1

Canadians can at least try to do something about it:
http://www.leadnow.ca/stop-fipa-vote.

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At this rate by BenJeremy · 2013-04-17 08:52 · Score: 1

Google Fiber will engulf the US in a mere 4,378 years!
1. Re:At this rate by fatalwall · 2013-04-17 09:16 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Maybe because Kansas City is being installed as fast as they want and they figure they can have teams in different locations going at max safe speed for install without conflicts. It could also be due to what the cable/media companies are doing with Caps and Cable subscription requirements to access content on hulu which goes inverse to the point of hulu. How best to shake things up then to have multiple sites being implemented forcing companies to upgrade networks or risk a google takeover of all customers.
2. Re:At this rate by stretch0611 · 2013-04-17 12:00 · Score: 1
  
  Google Fiber will engulf the US in a mere 4,378 years!
  Which when compared to cable providers will be 100x quicker than their scheduled upgrade to Gigabit. (and 250x quicker than telcos.)
  And don't forget, even when cable companies get to the Gigabit threshold, they will still have a 250Mb/month usage cap. (which will only be waived if you are in an area where they do not have a monopoly and fear you may leave for the competition.)
  
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3. Re:At this rate by symbolset · 2013-04-17 15:49 · Score: 1
  
  Kansas city is very cold in the winter. Now that it is warming up there, they can send crews for field training from more habitable places. It takes time to build methods, processes and human resources so they start slow as they figure out the optimal ways to do things. The KC installers probably live in the KC area and if they develop too many crews they will run out of work. Once they have good processes the scale can ramp pretty quick.
  
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Can't wait by ekimd · 2013-04-17 08:56 · Score: 3, Informative

As a current iProvo fiber user, I can't wait to welcome my new Google overlords.

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1. Re:Can't wait by fishybell · 2013-04-17 10:24 · Score: 2
  
  I used iProvo back when Provo city was still running the ship and it was perfectly fine (except the install process). Each time it moved hands it seemed to get worse. This final move will hopefully be the last. I texted John Curtis (Provo mayor) as soon as I heard the announcement. His response? "It's a great oppurtinity for Provo." I find that somewhat telling as Provo city gets 25 buildings wired to gigabit for free, while the taxpayers (myself included) continue paying for the $39 million bond.
  iProvo was sold for one dollar ($1 USD) to Google. Google upgrades services at their cost, provides free internet to Provo citizens at 5 mbit ($30 install fee) and to Provo goverment (and library, etc.) at 1 gbit, and Provo gets to put a big smily face on it's city while continuing to pay $3.3 million a year towards the bond. I guess the idea is that this will get more high-tech businesses to setup in Provo, but as far as I can tell, it's mostly just a "we hate Veracity" measure to get them to not be the provider anymore.
  
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2. Re:Can't wait by mattack2 · 2013-04-17 10:54 · Score: 1
  
  You meant $300 install fee, right? (Though I see that for the higher priced ones, they even have the install fee officially listed as waived, like I had read about in other news stories.)
  Even if you do have to pay $300 install fee, that's at worst equivalent to 1 year of DSL (using AT&T's price for naked DSL.. The $14.95/month ads require you to have a phone line)â¦ then free. Seems like a great deal to me.
3. Re:Can't wait by jensend · 2013-04-17 11:13 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  It's true that this is basically a "take this away from Veracity" move.
  iProvo was a great idea. It was killed by politics.
  The extreme right-wing folks who think there should be no public services managed to force Provo to not provide services directly ("retail model") but rather to cut corporate middlemen in on the deal ("wholesale model"). That privatized all the profits while socializing all the costs. Unsurprisingly, it failed.
  Given the political realities in Utah right now, I suppose the Google Fiber deal is the best we could hope for. But we would have had something at least as good way back in 2006 if it weren't for idiotic politicians.
4. Re:Can't wait by c++0xFF · 2013-04-17 11:27 · Score: 1
  
  It's a $30 activation fee for those already on iProvo. My bet is that new customers pay a $300 install fee for the free service, just like elsewhere, but no news on that yet.
Indeed by Dega704 · 2013-04-17 09:06 · Score: 2

Here's hoping they do the same with the stalling UTOPIA network in Salt Lake City.
1. Re:Indeed by Smonster · 2013-04-17 09:40 · Score: 1
  
  Salt Lake City is not part of UTOPIA. Though many surrounding municipalities are part of it.
2. Re:Indeed by Dega704 · 2013-04-20 11:13 · Score: 1
  
  Here's hoping that they do the same with the UTOPIA network in Brigham City, Centerville, Layton, Lindon, Midvale, Murray, Orem, Payson, Tremonton, and West Valley City then. Is that better? Criminy.
Porn by Oyjord · 2013-04-17 09:07 · Score: 2, Funny

Just imagine how much faster the porn will download in Utah! Wait....
1. Re:Porn by ewieling · 2013-04-17 09:16 · Score: 1
  
  Indeed. Old, but may be relevant: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705288350/Utah-No-1-in-online-porn-subscriptions-report-says.html?pg=all
  
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Big cities?? by seven+of+five · 2013-04-17 09:10 · Score: 1

I'm getting the impression that LA, Chicago and NY are going to have a long wait for this.
1. Re:Big cities?? by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-17 09:25 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Now imagine how long people in Shawinigan, Québec, Canada will have to wait.
  
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2. Re:Big cities?? by rsborg · 2013-04-17 10:52 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I'm getting the impression that LA, Chicago and NY are going to have a long wait for this.
  Of course they will. Do those cities also have a municipal fiber setup that Google could snatch up for $1?
  When Google is looking at the FIBER_ROLLOUT_CITIES table, they aren't doing an ORDER BY population DESC. More like ORDER BY cost, legal_difficulties ASC.
  
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3. Re:Big cities?? by Guspaz · 2013-04-17 10:56 · Score: 1
  
  Shawinigan is in the service area of Bell Canada, who are deploying fiber to the home (in general, not necessarily currently in Shawinigan) at a pretty decent pace, although their speeds top out at 175 Mbps symetrical for several times more than Google charges.
4. Re:Big cities?? by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-17 13:01 · Score: 1
  
  And since it's Bell, that 175 Mbps will be useless after about an hour or two of downloading. They have some of the worst monthly caps I've ever heard of.
  
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5. Re:Big cities?? by Guspaz · 2013-04-17 17:32 · Score: 1
  
  They have unlimited for $10/mth extra, although I'm not sure if they're still allowing people to sign up for it.
6. Re:Big cities?? by MrDoh! · 2013-04-17 18:09 · Score: 1
  
  I wish more things were explained using simple SQL.
  
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acceleration by sayfawa · 2013-04-17 09:12 · Score: 1

Wow, from the first city to the next getting it, it was, what, about a year? And now another one in a matter of days. If my calculations are correct, all baryonic matter will be made of google fiber in a month, or so.

Awesome!

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1. Re:acceleration by MrYingster · 2013-04-17 09:31 · Score: 2
  
  Is extrapolating your hobby? XKCD
Coming next -faster Comcast!!!! by tooyoung · 2013-04-17 09:21 · Score: 1

I wonder how long it will take for Comcast to suddenly decide to offer a very similar service in Provo.
Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger! by AtomicSymphonic · 2013-04-17 09:25 · Score: 1

Looks like ISP's better watch their collective back. Google coming to screw telecom monopolies over and give the customer what they truly want in an obscure city somewhat near you...
1. Re:Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-17 09:55 · Score: 1
  
  logs what I do, injects ads, hijacks DNS, and prevents me from accessing ThePirateBay
  Citation?
2. Re:Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger! by fishybell · 2013-04-17 10:26 · Score: 1
  
  Hey! That obscure city is where I live!
  ...then again, it's usually listed as "a suburb of Salt Lake City" even though it's 40 minutes away...
  
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3. Re:Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger! by Zeromous · 2013-04-17 12:30 · Score: 1
  
  Google and Facebook have yet to support CISPA.
  
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4. Re:Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger! by Zeromous · 2013-04-17 12:31 · Score: 2
  
  Which for that matter has nothing to do with collecting your personal information and injecting ads.
  
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Why not work in parallel in different cities? by DragonWriter · 2013-04-17 09:34 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'm not sure why they are expanding when the original Kansas City install is not even 10% completed.
Because fiber deployment (both actual fiber laying and establishing service) in different cities is something that parallelizes quite well providing that you have sufficient capital, so there is no reason to hold off starting work in other cities just because you haven't finished in the first one you started in.
How is it not fair to call it Google Fiber? by DragonWriter · 2013-04-17 09:42 · Score: 4, Insightful

AFAICT, Google hasn't laid a single foot of fiber themselves. They've just been buying up existing fiber that has already been laid by earlier projects and calling it Google fiber.
You know what, most airlines have never built an airplane themselves, either, they just buy up (actually, I think "lease" is the more common model now) existing airplanes and slap their names on them. So what?
Since when is it "not fair" to use your company's name on a service you sell, just because some key pieces of equipment used in providing that service were either purchased or leased from someone else? Is it unfair for the (very many) companies selling services built on top of, e.g., Amazon's cloud infrastructure (who haven't even bought the infrastructure from Amazon, but are renting it dynamically based on usage) to use their own name rather than Amazon's for their services?
Is UTOPIA Next? by Sir_Eptishous · 2013-04-17 09:44 · Score: 1

Google would get a firesale price if they wanted to purchase UTOPIA.
Google, buy UTOPIA!

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1. Re:Is UTOPIA Next? by littlewiggler · 2013-04-17 10:24 · Score: 1
  
  Yup - and sign up West Jordan....
Re:Coming next by egcagrac0 · 2013-04-17 10:07 · Score: 1, Funny

Multi-Mormon Online Real Proselytizing Game?
Re:Get googles attention: by fishybell · 2013-04-17 10:29 · Score: 2

...and then fail to deliver very well, then lose millions of tax payer dollars, then give it away, then buy it back, then give it to Google, then continue to lose millions of dollars. Brilliant!
...then again, I'm getting Google Fiber...yeah, I'll take it.

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History repeats by dbIII · 2013-04-17 10:37 · Score: 2

A place in Utah was also the third site in the forerunner of the internet.
Why choose Provo? (hint: lookup Bluffdale, Utah) by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-17 12:32 · Score: 2, Interesting

Just wanted to float the slightly unobvious fact that Provo is only one county away from Bluffdale, Utah where the NSA's new data facility (capable of storing the entirety of the Internet for the next 1000 years) is located..
*wink wink...say no more, say no more*
Pop Star! by AnotherAnonymousUser · 2013-04-17 15:15 · Score: 1

How else could they stream Lindsey Stirling performances live to her millions of fans?
Re:Why choose Provo? (hint: lookup Bluffdale, Utah by MrDoh! · 2013-04-17 18:10 · Score: 1

Good, I've been looking for an off-site backup of all my animated cat Gifs. This /might/ be enough.

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Even then... by SuperKendall · 2013-04-17 18:20 · Score: 1

I guess OS X would be a better example, since Apple bought NeXT and used its OS as the basis for OS X.
I don't know, it still shares the "X"... :-)

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1. Re:Even then... by ArcadeMan · 2013-04-18 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe that's why they called it "X" instead of "10".
  
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Google doesn't use SQL, they use GQL by digiti · 2013-04-17 18:39 · Score: 1

So the result for this would be a failure due to no index. Ugh. BigTable.
Re:Why choose Provo? (hint: lookup Bluffdale, Utah by unixisc · 2013-04-18 01:23 · Score: 1

The old headquarters of Novell?