Mayor Swims With Sharks to Attract Google Fiber
How much do you want Google's 1 Gigabit fiber? Mayors are going gaga for it.
A couple of weeks back, we heard about Bill Bunten, Mayor of Topeka, and his decision to change the name of Topeka, Kansas to Google, Kansas in a bid for the search giant's 1 Gigabit fiber. It seems Bunten is not the only mayor desperate to be a part of the Internet trial.
The New York Times reports that the Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota Don Ness lept into the icy waters of Lake Superior in aid of the Special Olympics and Google's 1 Gigabit fiber. Also eager for Google's attention is the Mayor of Sarasota Florida, Richard Clapp, jumped into a tank filled with sharks and renamed City Island Google Island.
The mayors (and people) of Sarasota and Topeka are not alone. There are plenty of cities that want to be Google's trial city. With the Friday, March 26 deadline approaching, eWeek reports that Baltimore, Maryland, has launched a Web site that uses Google Maps to plot the location of more than 1,000 residents, offering their reasons for wanting the service; the people and officials in Ann Arbor, Michigan, have launched a Facebook campaign and a Web site to help their cause.
Has your city done anything to catch Google's attention? Let us know in the comments below!
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I thought the city that actually changed it's name to Google was going to win!
I want it! But anyway with 10 times less bandwidth I can download more HD video than I can watch!
Maybe is more useful for hosting a busy website, than for a common user.
Attach*
Also, not all sharks bite/kill humans.
If they were piranhas, then it's a different story.
really, no need to name a whole City "Google" might as well name it "Japan" as they already have connections at this speed... This is not something people should have to beg for, it is something that the government should deem standard issue. No wonder why the rest of the world thinks of us Americans as retards...
Did anyone else notice the fish falling from the sky between seconds 1:48 and 1:52?
Google is so good at pulling off these "What would you do for a Klondike bar" PR stunts its not even funny. Some of this is embarrassing to see your Official City/State/County law makers out there on television bowing to Corporations.
Those same cities/states/counties can simple stop signing 10 year contracts with Cable/Telco's and instead create there own local municipal broadband system like many others have rather than do this. Can't blame Google though, they are just showing Americans how desperate people really are. Comcasts 16/2 lowest plan is good for me, I don't need to watch elected officials make an ass out of themselves for attention.
Awwww... my clever Austin Powers reference was deleted. I'm sad now.
Attach*Also, not all sharks bite/kill humans.If they were piranhas, then it's a different story.
I agree, which is why this mayor's stunt was lackluster. Chum the water, and dress the man as a tuna; that will get people's attention!
really, no need to name a whole City "Google" might as well name it "Japan" as they already have connections at this speed... This is not something people should have to beg for, it is something that the government should deem standard issue. No wonder why the rest of the world thinks of us Americans as retards...
When you say "standard issue" do you mean government run broadband services? I know Comcast is bad, but have you ever been to the DMV, or a VA hospital?
"Sure we will be out to hook up your high speed broadband! Let me just check the computer for an appointment date; let's see, we will be out next year between Jan 1 and Dec 31. We will need you to be at home..."
Isn't Ann Arbor, Michigan home to a small college or prep school that uses a lot of bandwidth? Couldn’t the 300 resident there (mostly student at that high school) simply leech off their school’s internet connection?
I wish the politicians around here were that up to speed on technology. You would never find anyone willing to do something like this to improve internet access for their community around these parts. I doubt the politicians around here could program a dang VCR. BTW, I live in Chattanooga, TN, USA.
later
I know our city is going for it. Our population goes from about 35,000 people to over 80,000 during school. We have a good combination of small city but giant DIV 1 school with a lot of needs.
This is pathetic. In a cents, people would do anything for money these days, pun intended. Politicians... Best if I left this subject unsaid.
In other news... Local mayor shoots twelve people and was heard yelling "I told them I would kill for this".
Lol everyone is so sick of Comcast's slow ass internet.
This country kid is sitting back and laughing at the politicians.
Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't do anything for California except raise taxes.
I'd stick my bleeding arm into a tub of ferocious piranhas if it meant an alternative to Comcast.
Attach*Also, not all sharks bite/kill humans.If they were piranhas, then it's a different story.
Piranha usually won't attack a full grown human male, unless he's injured or bleeding, or is a midget.
i'd much rather have the opportunity to get comcast than what i can get. the fastest where i live is 6/512, and that is at&t's fastest.
Nope my city hasn't done anything , Utah doesn't like to have faster internet , because the internet is full of sinners....
I hate where I live, I really do.
'Cause I've got gigabit ethernet,
I've got a golden twinkle in my eye
I never had a chance to shine
Never a happy song to sing
But suddenly half the world is mine
What an amazing thing
'Cause I've got gigabit ethernet!
I am stuck with comcast or at&t at my current residence, three blocks from Michigan State University's campus.
Called verizon, didn't care how much I'd have to pay - of course it isn't offered in my area.
16/2 here is more than my parents pay for 50/(not sure upload) an hour's drive away
It's highly unlikely to see that happening in Europe, right? I mean the hole Google Fiber thing...
I'd tattoo Google on my ass for gigabit fibre.
Or move to Japan. Last I checked, as long as you live in the right area, gigabit up/down for ~$60/month. I'd have a RAID10 setup just so my storage medium isn't the bottleneck.
Guess I'll just stick to paying $50/month for 15/1 net. =(
I live in Duluth, so yes we want it! Really hope we get it, it would open up a ton of jobs that we are in desperate need of.
Asheville does not need to pull stunts to attract Google. Our history of innovation is solid and our creativity already firmly in place. Asheville wants Google, but we do not need it to progress. We have fiber, we have local ISP's, we have state-of-the-art networks and cutting edge developers. We are kicking during a historic recession.
http://www.youtube.com/group/googl [...] 5m3_M8RqOw
It's difficult to choose a community for the Google Fiber project when zany stunts are involved.
To make Google's decision easier, we launched a fun city-selection tool that lets you rank your top 5 choices for Google Fiber (Topeka, Sarasota and Duluth are in the running!). Go to vote at http://zoomprospector.com/googlefiber. While this quiz is for fun and selects communities that have performed some of the funniest promotions, the data is all real.
If you have any questions, please contact us at:
marketing@gisplanning.com, GIS Planning Inc.