While we are in an early phase of organization, we are constantly monitoring all potential solutions for our region and are committed to exploring each opportunity. Many of you have written to us about Google’s plan to build and test ultra high speed broadband networks in one or more communities across the country. This is a trial project so that Google can experiment with new ways to help make the Internet better and faster for everybody. It is also a way for Google to test new products and services.
After careful consideration, the WiredWest Steering Committee has decided to submit, through the Google Request for Information residents and community groups portal, a statement about why the Google trial might be appropriate for our region. We will then follow that up with a more thorough document, providing more detailed information along the lines of what Google is requesting through its local government portal. There is a significant amount of data that we have in hand for the region that we can provide on behalf of the region. This will go directly to Google along with an outline of the WiredWest project.
Of course, no single town in our Western Mass Region will likely meet Google’s minimum threshold for its pilot project. But our region as a whole might. We encourage town leaders, broadband committee representatives, and residents to express interest in the Google pilot project by directly sending their own response through the Google residents and community groups portal. Please reference Wired West in your response so that Google is aware of the extent of our community support.
While we recognize that our submission is likely a long shot, the point of providing responses to Google’s Request for Information is to demonstrate demand in Western Massachusetts for broadband services, and in particular for a fiber to the home solution. We believe fiber is the only acceptable solution for our region and the only solution that will create a future-proof network to serve all of us for decades to come. An equally important point is to demonstrate that folks in Western Massachusetts want a broadband solution that is an open network, where any internet (and telephone and television) service provider can access the network to offer services to customers. This concept, which is central to the Google pilot project, is important to create the competition necessary to keep services affordable so that anyone who wants high speed internet can have it.
And finally, if any single town does decide to submit the comprehensive local government information, we request that they send a copy of that submission to The WiredWest Steering committee.