Google Fiber for Twin Ports Communities | Duluth | Superior

See you at the Family Fun Fest Saturday!

2010-02-26T17:48:00.001-06:00

We're going to be down at the Family Fun Fest at the DECC all day Saturday. Please come down and say hello, and bring your kids for some Googley face painting. If you want to help people fill out the form to tell Google to come to Duluth and Superior, bring a laptop and stay awhile!
For more info e-mail annagcook@gmail.com.

See you tomorrow!

Patrick

A great story on the Twin Ports Google bid ran on MPR this morning!

2010-02-26T08:19:00.000-06:00

Duluth says Google network could be 'magnet' for growth

You've got questions, and we've got answers

2010-02-23T18:42:00.000-06:00

I know many volunteers have been asking for the basics on what Google wants us to do. So here are some preliminary information we've drafted to help answer those burning questions.

Please post additional questions below in our comments section.

What is Google planning to build?
Ultra-high speed fiber-optic broadband networks in one or more locations across the country. Google is offering Internet speeds of one gigabit per second, from 100 to 1,000 times faster than what anyone in the greater Duluth-Superior area currently enjoys.

What is a fiber-optic network?
Instead of a copper telephone line (DSL service) or a coaxial cable (cable internet) fiber-optic service delivers the data over a flexible fiber, allowing for almost unlimited growth and speeds for Internet, phones and data. Copper and coaxial cable can’t be expanded. Fiber is therefore the technology of the future, much faster and more reliable than wireless Internet.

Why would I really need anything faster than what I have?
This change would make what you have now feel like a dial-up connection. Just like when broadband replaced dial-up you were able to view videos online and use the Internet more effectively, ultra high-speed bandwidth will create a new wave of innovation. Many of the new web-based applications that are being developed that require higher speed include high-definition video. The services being developed will allow the elderly for example to interact with medical specialists and relatives in other cities from the comfort of their homes through high quality video feeds. Benefits also include teachers working remotely with students in vastly superior ways than the current Internet allows, and dramatically increasing access to more jobs.

What impact would it have on this community?
It would serve as the economic catalyst for this generation, akin to the U.S. Steel plant’s impact in West Duluth. The experiment would likely turn Duluth-Superior into a Midwestern technology-innovation hub. Many new programs and services requiring ultra-high speed fiber will naturally be created in communities that have fiber. Many existing businesses now want their employees to have the speed and access at home that they have in their business facilities. People could also return to the region, precisely because they could work from here, thanks to the high Internet speeds. This project would bring the kind of outside economic investment and international attention to Duluth-Superior that came to the first towns that received the railroad or electricity.

How much will it cost the average taxpayer?
Google plans to offer the service at about the price you’re paying now for Internet service, or cheaper. There may be a small connection charge to bring the wire from the street to your home, but a precise figure isn’t known yet. If you don’t personally want the service, you’d pay nothing, and neither would your city.

Why is Google doing this? Google says its goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone.

Why am I being asked to help?
Google wants to find one or more communities where it’s obvious the residents truly want the company to come. Area residents need to show Google that Duluth-Superior is focused on building a sustainable economy, is progressive and filled with talent, and is undergoing an economic renaissance. How organized and excited the community is, what infrastructure is currently available and many other factors will play into the decision. Please visit http://www.googletwinports.com where you’ll be walked through how to urge Google to come to Duluth-Superior.

When will Google announce which communities won?
By the end of the year.

Duluth Mayor Don Ness takes the plunge for Google

2010-02-22T14:11:00.000-06:00

As promised, Duluth Mayor Don Ness plunged into Lake Superior this weekend, for Google's sake. He has a little message for the other mayors out there who honestly believe their cities are better suited for Google, but you'll have to watch the end to see it. Please embed and link this video everywhere you can think of, and vote it up on Digg.

Almanac North highlighted the Duluth/Superior Fiber Initiative on Friday night.

2010-02-20T01:53:00.000-06:00

Watch the full show below

Almanac North #1817 from Almanac North on Vimeo.

If you want to help

2010-02-19T16:15:00.000-06:00

Hello Fiber fanatics. Thanks again for the great turnout last night. If you weren't at the event, but would like to be added to a growing list of volunteers, please e-mail garmoe@gmail.com with the following information (we're creating a form for this soon, but for now, here's what to tell us in an e-mail):

First Name:
Last Name:
Best number to contact you:
Secondary number:
What is your gmail account?
Additional e-mail account?
What's your zip code?
What's your most comfortable skill set? Example: Computers, Writing, Organizing, etc.?

Highlight which committees you are interested in serving on?
Public Relations, Systems (building applications), Creative & Content, Leadership & Vision

What community groups are you currently in? Example: Church, Rotary, Nonprofits?

Are you a student?
If so, where?

Will you help us with offline (non-internet) missions?
Are you officially representing a specific group?
What else would you like us to know?

*Your name and e-mail may be used in the public Google application.

Press Release: For all the journalists following this effort

2010-02-17T16:06:00.000-06:00

Google Twin Ports is a community-wide initiative led by the mayors of both Duluth and Superior, aimed at becoming one of a handful of locations in the United States for Google to build an ultra-high speed broadband network.

If successful, it would allow residents of Duluth to pay about what they're paying now, for Internet 100 times faster than current top speeds. This would lead to all kinds of benefits for individuals and businesses, many of which haven't even been imagined yet.

For example, a rural health clinic near Duluth could stream three-dimensional medical images over the web, so the patient wouldn't have to drive several hours for an appointment to see a specialist. Students here could join others around the globe in watching a live lecture in 3D. Each person on the network could download a full high-definition movie in less than five minutes.

How fast? Google will 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. Google says they'll offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 people, and potentially up to 500,000 people.

Google's main goals for this experiment are to spur interest in what's possible, if Internet speed is no object. Google wants to test a new way of building fiber networks and create an open network, so users will have more choice in who they buy Interent access from. In addition, Google wants to watch developers create a whole variety of new applications that currently aren't practical to create, due to lack of bandwith.

The initial meeting on the idea organized by Duluth Mayor Don Ness, occured Feb. 15. In attendance were about 12 local IT professionals and entrepreneurs. The team has now expanded to include four committees all tackling different aspects of the proposal, from preliminary engineering of the project, to getting the communities involved.

A facebook group started before the first meeting has already grown to nearly 2,000 members, as of Feb. 17.

Everyone interested in this initiative is asked to show your support:

Visit http://www.googletwinports.com and click the "nominate our communities" button; join our Facebook Groups page, and join the Google Groups page, and keep up on the latest news on our blog.
Post your own video explaining why you want Google to come to the Twin Ports and how you'd benefit from this.
Come to the public events where we'll be discussing the project. Our next one is scheduled for: 4:00 pm at the UMD Center for Economic Development, in the Technology Village: 11 East Superior Street, Suite 210, Duluth, MN 55802

Creative/Content Steering Committee Meeting

2010-02-17T10:45:00.000-06:00

The members of the C&C steering committee will meet today to discuss the concept/creative process for the final bid product. Goals will be to be to come up with a structure to allow for input and energy from the awesome and talented creative community here. We'll have a process document and a request for ideas document prepared for the Thursday roll out event.

Kick Off Event

2010-02-16T10:34:00.000-06:00

Let's get together and show Google we mean business!

Time: 4:00PM Thursday, February 18th

Location:UMD Center for Economic Development - Tech Village

If you want to see this happen, then let's see your face.

Duluth Mayor Don Ness Interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio

2010-02-15T18:44:00.000-06:00

St. Paul, Minn. — The mayor of Duluth is ready to throw his city's hat in the ring for a new Google experiment to test ultra-high speed Internet access.

Google is planning to build one gigabit per second broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the U.S.

One gigabit per second is more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to in their homes today.

The internet giant says their fiber-to-the-home connections would let people download a full high-def movie in less than five minutes.

Duluth Mayor Don Ness spoke with MPR's Steven John about his city's plan.

Broadcast Dates
All Things Considered, 02/15/2010, 4:44 p.m.