By Concord resident Bob Kusik
Google recently announced (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/think-big-with-gig-our-experimental.html):
Think about how much the transition from dial-up to broadband Internet access has changed our lives. An Internet 100 times faster than today's will likely have a similar impact on us and our society. Wouldn't it be interesting to participate in this experiment?
As a first step, Google issued a Request for Information to help identify communities with whom they might collaborate. Concord is seriously considering responding if there is a sufficient level of interest. We've created a Google Group called the ConcordGig as a forum in which we can disseminate information, share ideas, etc. The size of ConcordGig's membership, and the level/quality of participation in this forum, will be a strong indicator to Google of our interest.
If you would like to join the ConcordGig Google group and already have a Google account (e.g. use Gmail, etc.), visit http://groups.google.com/group/concordgig and click "Join this group" which you will find along the right side of the page. If you don't have a Google account you can join by sending eMail to concordgig+subscribe@googlegroups.com. The Subject should be "Subscribe" and the body of the eMail can be left blank.
Send questions and report problems with the mechanics of the ConcordGig Google group to me at bkusik@alum.mit.edu.
I appreciate your help in spreading the word. This could be a really exciting experiment!
Google recently announced (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/think-big-with-gig-our-experimental.html):
A number of us in Concord think that our town might be an excellent collaborative partner in this experiment. The fiber network that we're building as part of the Smart Grid project would be an excellent foundation on which to build. This would reduce Google's cost and construction time considerably. Our town is home to a number of people who are involved with the development of the Internet itself, as well as several companies which are leaders in Internet-based applications.We're planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. We'll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We plan to offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.
Our goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone. Here are some specific things that we have in mind:
Next generation apps: We want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it's creating new bandwidth-intensive "killer apps" and services, or other uses we can't yet imagine.
New deployment techniques: We'll test new ways to build fiber networks, and to help inform and support deployments elsewhere, we'll share key lessons learned with the world.
Openness and choice: We'll operate an "open access" network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with our past advocacy, we'll manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent way.
Think about how much the transition from dial-up to broadband Internet access has changed our lives. An Internet 100 times faster than today's will likely have a similar impact on us and our society. Wouldn't it be interesting to participate in this experiment?
As a first step, Google issued a Request for Information to help identify communities with whom they might collaborate. Concord is seriously considering responding if there is a sufficient level of interest. We've created a Google Group called the ConcordGig as a forum in which we can disseminate information, share ideas, etc. The size of ConcordGig's membership, and the level/quality of participation in this forum, will be a strong indicator to Google of our interest.
If you would like to join the ConcordGig Google group and already have a Google account (e.g. use Gmail, etc.), visit http://groups.google.com/group/concordgig and click "Join this group" which you will find along the right side of the page. If you don't have a Google account you can join by sending eMail to concordgig+subscribe@googlegroups.com. The Subject should be "Subscribe" and the body of the eMail can be left blank.
Send questions and report problems with the mechanics of the ConcordGig Google group to me at bkusik@alum.mit.edu.
I appreciate your help in spreading the word. This could be a really exciting experiment!
