Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Job Postings Offer Clues to Future of Google Fiber

Posted by timothy on from the it's-getting-oh-so-close dept.

New submitter Admiral Jimbob McGif writes Even as a massive firestorm burns uncontrollably threatening to scorch the very foundations of the internet with AT&T indefinitely halting future GigaPower FTTH rollouts due to uncertainty over the future of net neutrality and the Obama administration proposing to regulate the internet under Title 2, highly suggestive jobs were recently added to Google Careers.

These Google Fiber related positions include: "City Manager", "Community Impact Manager" and "Plant Manager" in all potential Google Fiber cities. Perplexing inconsistences abound, such as Portland, Phoenix, San Jose and Atlanta positions being listed as local. Whereas San Antonio, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Nashville are listed as telecommute positions.

One is inclined to speculate as to what these job postings mean despite Google's disclaimer: "Not all cities where we're exploring hiring a team will necessarily become Google Fiber cities." Would Google post jobs as an act of posturing much like AT&T's supposed "Gigabit smoke screen" bluff? Or, should we expect to see these so called Fiber Huts springing up like so many mushrooms after a heavy rain in an additional 9 metro areas?

At the rate Google is going, is it too soon to speculate over Fiber Dojos popping up in Japan?

38 comments

  1. We need communism by For+a+Free+Internet · · Score: -1

    Capitalism means racist police lynching and endless imperialist slaughter. Workers to power!

    --
    UNITE with the Campaign for a Free Internet because today, our future begins with tomorrow!
    1. Re: We need communism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Way to be relevant dude. Now I'll definitely throw my belief in Capitalism in the trash thanks to your extremely poignant and pertinent comment. After all,most people are aware that Stalin was a big proponent of broadband.

    2. Re: We need communism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd say he was on par with the politicians in the US today. They couldn't care less about broadband, freedom of speech or net neutrality. The only thing that matters is money and power and that means pulling their pants down infront of rich corporations. But keep doing it. Your country will be even less relevant in tech. And you are in for a big surprise when you as citizens will need to pay that national debt...

    3. Re: We need communism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Whatever you say Hitler!!

    4. Re: We need communism by penix1 · · Score: 1

      And you are in for a big surprise when you as citizens will need to pay that national debt...

      Nah.. We will do like any other corporation out there and declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy, change our name and move on.

      --
      This is a sig. This is only a sig. Had this been an actual sig you would have been informed where to tune for more sigs.
    5. Re: We need communism by unixisc · · Score: 1

      You misspelled 'Stalin'

    6. Re: We need communism by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Make that Chapter 7. Chapter 11 would include a plan to actually come out of that debt

    7. Re:We need communism by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 2

      Neither this article nor your comment have anything to do with capitalism. It's no wonder your post is scored -1 without any moderation at all. That and your ideology died in the late 80's.

      Besides, in DEEP contrast to every communist's philosophy and predictions, every self-identified communist society that survives to this day has either partially or fully incorporated capitalist concepts into their economy. The ones that didn't saw a big drop in GDP followed by total collapse, and among those, the ones who survived the longest were the ones that closed their borders to prevent their citizens from escaping to a capitalist country, essentially resorting to slavery.

      So in other words, REAL communism turns into slavery, and never a government free utopia.

      For an early precursor of what was to come, read about the complete history of the Icarians in Nauvoo, IL (it was a short one, by the way, but matches what I described above.)

    8. Re: We need communism by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      So Google is using its massive wealth to at least make a few small dents in the central planning quagmire that has granted all sorts of telecomm monopolies and seriously screwed up the progress of technology; everywhere Google exerts some competitive pressure the incumbents react and/or people get Google Fiber connections directly, improving their conditions, but ...

      what we need more of is central planning, and less capitalistic drive to outcompete the extant market players. Sheesh - some people just can't handle cause and effect.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    9. Re:We need communism by ozduo · · Score: 0

      No we need a dictator ME!

      --
      I got to the chocolate box before you, that's why the hard ones have teeth marks.
    10. Re: We need communism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That historically leads to war as the debtor reposses the unpaid value in the form if REAL Capital (trilioon dollar factories, gold reserves, and natural resources)

  2. Highly suggestive job titles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where are the openings for masseuses, escorts, and pole dancers?

    - disappointed

  3. Bleh by binarylarry · · Score: 1

    Fiber Dojos in Japan and Fiber Taco Stands in Mexico and Fiber Curling Centers in Canada, oh my!

    --
    Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
    1. Re:Bleh by mjwalshe · · Score: 1

      could do with turning down the cutesy hyperbole meanwhile over in the real world its reckoned that the traditional pstn with be dead and gone in ten years replaced by 100% ip

    2. Re:Bleh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seems like a bad idea. Doesn't PSTN work even when the power is down?

      Furthermore, I think net neutrality should focus on not giving preference over specific companies. If an ISP wants to throttle video, that's fine, as long as they treat all video the same, and not give preference to YouTube, for example.

      But I do think they should be forced to rent out no less than 10% of their bandwidth through the cables to smaller ISPs, to bring in competition, especially for areas where they have a monopoly.

  4. Someone Actually Wrote that Post?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Even as a massive firestorm burns uncontrollably threatening to scorch the very foundations of the internet"

    Sounds like we've got an experience porn writer trying to change to technical writing.

  5. Stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "perplexing inconsistencies." Yep, sounds like the future of Google Fiber.

    Yet another thing that google has no fucking clue what to do with, except lose money - but somehow, some way - they'll make it up in volume.

  6. Admiral Jimbob McGif by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you're a creeper

  7. Job postings are cheap by swm · · Score: 2

    Long ago, I worked for a little company in one state, that bought a big company in another state (don't ask), and the big company had a union shop. At some point they were trying to negotiate something with the union, and they weren't getting what they wanted, so the next week they advertise 300 job openings in the local city paper, like they were going to move the entire shop in-state and just cut the union loose.

    Nothing ever came of it.

    1. Re:Job postings are cheap by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 1

      The job postings may or may not be fictional, but the Telecoms won't be able to tell the difference.

      As is typical for the monopoly giants, expect to see a large push for their own services in the cities where Google job postings are springing up. While it -might- be a bluff on Googles part, it is definitely a cheap way to get your competition to spend a lot of money to expand their infrastructure which is long overdue. ( Looking at you there 4MB/s is fast enough AT&T )

      Sort of stoking the fire if you will.

      The Telecoms can't afford to sit idle because, if it turns out Google isn't bluffing, potential customers will flock to Google en masse on a one way trip. The Telecoms know it. Google knows it too.

      As evil as Google is, ( I certainly wouldn't use their services since their business model is completely based on depriving all of us of privacy of any kind ) it takes a Gorilla to move a Gorilla. In the end, maybe we'll see some decent offerings by multiple companies at a price that isn't a complete rip-off.

  8. good way to get H1B workers in by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    good way to get H1B workers in and then after hire you can say move to CA at your own cost in 1 week or your gone. H1B must keep the job or be kicked out of the usa.

  9. This stuff makes me wanna puke.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Translation: Head off all the PR pitfalls and political BS so that we can get digging... repeat after me...net neu-tra-li-ty! co-mu-ni-ty!

            Communicate directly with community leaders and residents about Fiberhood design and Rally process (i.e., public speaking at homeowner associations, hosted events, and other local gatherings, as well as educational outreach to opinion leaders, community organizations, and local media).
            Manage relationships and communications around our Community Connections program, which will offer free gigabit connectivity to eligible organizations.
            Identify and build champions in digitally disconnected communities, drive and support digital literacy partnerships, and promote adoption of our “no monthly fee” broadband service.
            Handle escalations that could have a PR or broad community risk (e.g. construction-related disruptions) and ensure that community needs are communicated to cross-functional Google Fiber business teams.
            Leverage our future flagship event space as an asset to the entire community.

  10. AT&T's Empty Bluff by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > AT&T indefinitely halting future GigaPower FTTH rollouts due to uncertainty over the future of net neutrality

    (1) The AT&T fiber-to-the-home rollouts are non-existent for all practical purposes
    (2) They walked back that bluff anyway

    AT&T Fiber-to-the-Press-Release reinstated.

  11. It was a dark and stormy night. by westlake · · Score: 1

    Even as a massive firestorm burns uncontrollably threatening to scorch the very foundations of the internet....

    Bennett Haselton fans rejoice. We have a new candidate for the most incoherent and mangled prose ever posted to Slashdot.

    1. Re:It was a dark and stormy night. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Bennett Haselton, at least he's not beta

  12. For Phoenix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This just means that Google is at the last half of stage 2 here in Phoenix. They still have to prove it is economy viable to roll out fiber here. That means enough people paying a subscription to be also able to roll out the free accounts, and people agreeing to the conditions of the free accounts. If they can not get the number to support the rollout then it will never get past stage 3 and a full rollout. Then they will just close shop here.

  13. took you this long? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Took you this long to figure that out?

    You want to know that a company is up to? Check their job postings. Sure some will mangle details, there are limits to that mangling.

  14. Interesting, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is there any correlation between how they posted the job offering and which cities they have announced in?
    Or maybe old posting were plan A and new are plan B?

    Profits depend on take rate.
    As for making money, if they only serve neighborhoods that are willing to sign up, how can they loose?
    Seems like the offer is both a fair deal and a way to finance a serious fiber buildout.
    I don't see how anything relating to equal access from the customer side from the FCC could upset this offer.

    It's really weird that AT&T is not doing the same thing.
    Maybe their cost basis is higher.
    Of maybe Google is finding some other value in the deal, Hopefully not Comcast like access to more eyeballs.

  15. Google promised to spill the beans by year's end&# by Admiral+Jimbob+McGif · · Score: 2
    Google promised to spill the beans by year's end:

    http://www.decaturmetro.com/20...

    http://wraltechwire.com/no-goo...

    And though the above two links only show this for Raleigh and Atlanta, I'll assume the same promise was made to all the potential new cities.

    Is there any correlation between how they posted the job offering and which cities they have announced in?

    Or maybe old posting were plan A and new are plan B?

    If I was a gambling type, I'd wager the cities Google is posting for "local" candidates are the winners and the "telecommuter" position cities are the losers. Nice to see that Google's momentum in the ISP market not only isn't slowing down, but in fact is accelerating.

    maybe Google is finding some other value in the deal, Hopefully not Comcast like access to more eyeballs.

    Let me tell you about extra value... Who isn't sick of Google not being able to do real time deep packet inspection on all our layer 7 content? I'm tired of getting metro-sexual fashion ads showing guys in tight jeans, when all I really care about is monster trucks and WWF wrestling events. Maybe Google will be able to get the hint finally once they have access to my entire data stream. Did you hear that Google-bots, BIG TRUCKS!?!!

    --
    Jimbob "Admiral" McGif
  16. Google promised to spill the beans by year's end&a by Admiral+Jimbob+McGif · · Score: 1
    NOTE: Despite using quote tags and the preview showing proper quotes, these two statements were not quoted properly in the parent post above:

    QUOTE1 "Is there any correlation between how they posted the job offering and which cities they have announced in? Or maybe old posting were plan A and new are plan B?"

    QUOTE2 "maybe Google is finding some other value in the deal, Hopefully not Comcast like access to more eyeballs."

    --
    Jimbob "Admiral" McGif
  17. It was a dark and stormy night. by Admiral+Jimbob+McGif · · Score: 1

    I'd say my submission was a bit flowery and hyperbolic in its opening statement, but not mangled and incoherent. Mostly overly dramatic, as a metaphor like "scorched foundations" perhaps implies a bit more damage than AT&T dropping the ball with their gigabit fiber deployment. It's not like the internet is set to shut down or anything similarly serious. That having been said, for the true internet connoisseur, perhaps this country's gigabit rollout IS important enough to warrant such strong analogies.

    --
    Jimbob "Admiral" McGif
  18. Portland by pigiron · · Score: 1

    This job needs to be local because google has a tax law problem in Oregon that it has to overcome.

  19. I can explain the telecommute... by tlambert · · Score: -1

    San Antonio, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Nashville are listed as telecommute positions

    No one with the skills to do what they want done wants to live there. They want to live in a place they can walk out the door, go down two doors, and apply for a position at some other tech company, and have a new job pretty much instantly. Employers are fungible.

    1. Re:I can explain the telecommute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do the telecommute positions have cities at all?

    2. Re:I can explain the telecommute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except, you've forgotten that Research Triangle exists around Raleigh. You /can/ walk out the door, go down two doors and apply for a position at some other tech company. Raleigh's tech growth is #2 in the nation at 54.7% since 2003 according to Forbes. That's why we've had such a massive population growth, particularly from the northeast. Nashville is #4 on that same list. Charlotte is /massive/ in the financial sector, with plenty of tech jobs to back that up, and while not as particularly powerhouse-y as Raleigh in the tech sector, is still exhibiting huge growth as a result of the financial sector.

      Way to be ignorant there, buddy. ;)

    3. Re:I can explain the telecommute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shhh. Don't tell him about all the technical people outside of the west coast. Then he might be interested in poaching them.

    4. Re:I can explain the telecommute... by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

      I suspect that they want people who live locally and are familiar with the location for all the jobs. The distinction isn't where you live, it's whether Google has an office there or plans to open one. If they have an office it's considered a local job, if they don't it's a telecommute job.

      Google already has an Atlanta office, San Jose is close enough to the Googleplex for that person to be based there. Another post suggested that they will have to open in Portland for legal reasons. That leaves only Phoenix, and that's a likely location for a new Google office. Not sure why they're not considering opening an office in the Research Triangle; the other two southern cities are not prime locations for them. San Antonio is a bit too far from their office in Austin to want to base that person there.

  20. fsck Google, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They haven't even rolled out fibre to 10% of Kansas City yet. Pricks