Google delays Fiber expansion in up to 34 cities

[Himanshu Arora]

Back in February this year, Google announced that it’s exploring the idea of expanding its high-speed fiber service to up to 34 cities in nine metro areas, saying that it will reveal its selections by the end of the year. But now, the company has delayed those plans.

Google is now saying that it will provide an update on the matter in 2015. “While we were hoping to have an update for cities before the holidays, we have a bit more work to wrap up; we’ll be back in touch sometime early next year,” the search giant said.

Containing a total of 33 cities, the metro areas now on hold include Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte in North Carolina, Atlanta, San Antonio, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Portland (Oregon), and San Jose (California).

The delay comes despite Jill Szuchmacher, director of business development for Google Fiber, saying earlier this month that the company was still on track for a year-end announcement.

Google Fiber is currently available in Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Provo, Utah. The service also recently launched in Austin, Texas, where it is available for $70 per month -- the plan also includes 1TB of cloud storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google+ photos.

The news comes over a month after Google started rolling out an Early Access Program for Google Fiber for Small Business in select areas of central Kansas City.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/59208-google-delays-fiber-expansion-up-34-cities.html

 

[Evernessince]

Google must believe net neutrality is going to work out it they are rolling out so slowly. At this rate it will be 2025 before they cover the nation. By then gigabit fiber won't be a huge deal (assuming the comcast timewarner merger doesn't straggle the market).

 

[Scshadow]

Nationwide rollout is probably not the actual goal. I really don't see Google ever being that big of an ISP and then there is plenty of people who believe Google is only in it for data collection purposes.

 

[drjekelmrhyde]

Google need to pull the ISP's bluff and say that they are wiring 10 major cities. The ISPs in those cities will shiat bricks trying to fiber those areas up fast to beat out Google. Then Google just say it's delayed/canceled.

 

[tipstir]

Why doesn't Google Billions buy out Comcast and then give all us on Comcast this so call Google Fiber!

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

Google must believe net neutrality is going to work out it they are rolling out so slowly. At this rate it will be 2025 before they cover the nation. By then gigabit fiber won't be a huge deal (assuming the comcast timewarner merger doesn't straggle the market).

Yes, they are probably waiting to see if the FCC makes the internet a utility. one of the parts of that means rate regulations, but no one really thinks they'll impose them on the internet. It's not as essential as electricity, heat or water service.
It will however make everything cost more, for both the companies laying the fiber and the consumers. That means Google will have to run their numbers again if the designation goes through. Some cities that look profitable now, might not if the internet is made a utility.

And here's another twist... Congress has the power to overrule federal rulings like the FCC would make. that means that even if the FCC does make the internet a utility, Congress might step in and block it. Who knows how long all this might take.
It's not even regulation that's slowing down progress; it's just the threat of regulation.

 

[Evernessince]

Yes, they are probably waiting to see if the FCC makes the internet a utility. one of the parts of that means rate regulations, but no one really thinks they'll impose them on the internet. It's not as essential as electricity, heat or water service.
It will however make everything cost more, for both the companies laying the fiber and the consumers. That means Google will have to run their numbers again if the designation goes through. Some cities that look profitable now, might not if the internet is made a utility.

And here's another twist... Congress has the power to overrule federal rulings like the FCC would make. that means that even if the FCC does make the internet a utility, Congress might step in and block it. Who knows how long all this might take.
It's not even regulation that's slowing down progress; it's just the threat of regulation.

I'm in favor of the what the congress has in mind. Preventing fast lanes without the need of title 2 reclassification. It's the best of both worlds.