Google fiber gets go-ahead
Progress is being made in bringing Mountain View the ultra fast Internet access promised by Google Fiber, according to an agreement announced Tuesday.
After a closed-door meeting about Google Fiber on Tuesday, City Attorney Jannie Quinn said the council is moving ahead with plans to license Google Fiber network “huts” — box-like structures which require 1,400 square feet of land and would be placed around Mountain View to serve 20,000 homes each. City officials previously reported that three of the huts may need to be placed on city land.
Mayor Chris Clark said that the agreement doesn’t mean Mountain View has been chosen as one of the cities Google where will build the network, though that announcement may come by the end of the year.
“Council endorses the terms of a hut license agreement and expresses continued support for moving forward with Google Fiber in the city of Mountain View,” Quinn said in her announcement.
Google proposed to work with the city to build the network in February as it announced it would shut down the free WiFi system that had covered all of Mountain View, a gift it gave the city in 2006. It’s unclear when the Google Fiber deal will be done or how long it will take to install the network, but Google Fiber could bring residents a speed similar to what most enjoy now (5 megabits per second) for no monthly fee, but there would be a one-time $300 construction fee. Comcast now charges anywhere from $30 a month to more than $70 for such service. Ultra-fast Internet (1 gigabit per second) would cost $70 a month or $120 a month if it includes TV services.
Email Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@mv-voice.com
