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!
Maybe is more useful for hosting a busy website, than for a common user.
Also, not all sharks bite/kill humans.
If they were piranhas, then it's a different story.
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.
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!
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..."
later
Piranha usually won't attack a full grown human male, unless he's injured or bleeding, or is a midget.