Google Fiber Files Permits for Remaining Huts in Charlotte

Google Fiber originally planned for 19 Fiber Huts in Charlotte, but until last week only 16 permits had been filed. We learned that the remaining three hut permits were filed on April 14 for the following locations:

Fiber Hut CLT 124            4027 Sandy Porter Rd (near Olympic High School)

Fiber Hut CLT 118             1546 Walton Rd (near Barringer Academic Center)

Fiber Hut CLT 115             3620 Rea Rd (near Olde Providence Elementary)

For a complete list of the 19 fiber huts in Charlotte click here.

It is our understanding that leaders in the Charlotte DOT, CMS, and the local Google Fiber team successfully negotiated the deeding and leasing of the properties so the huts could be built. We don't know all the details of the negotiations, but assume it included convincing Google Fiber lawyers to see things Charlotte's way! 

We owe our local heroes a big Thank You for bring the matter to conclusion so we can move forward with the ultra high-speed Internet infrastructure!

Are you interested in knowing more about what Gigabit Internet will mean for Charlotte? Sign up for our mailing list with the link below and stay informed. You can also follow us on Twitter (@CltHeartsGb).

Progress on Charlotte Google Fiber Hut 123

[Updated May 4, 2016] Google Fiber has begun construction on Charlotte Fiber Hut #123, located at 8628 South Blvd near the intersection of Sharon Rd. West. According to the Accela Citizen Access database, the permit for Hut 123 was filed on June 8, 2015. For a list of the 16 Charlotte sites where Google Fiber has filed for permits, click here. Our sources indicate there are three additional locations that will be added to the current list.

Two pictures below show the Fiber Hut 123 site under construction. Thank you to Emerson Lawson for taking the photos.

Photo taken May 3, 2016

Photos taken March 27, 2016

Photos taken March 31, 2016

Photos taken April 2, 2016

Google Fiber Reception in Charlotte

We were invited to the Google Fiber reception in Charlotte at The Liberty on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. It was a great opportunity to celebrate Charlotte's selection as one of the new Google Fiber cities.

Google Fiber had local representatives in attendance, as well as team members from the national deployment team, and from Kansas City and Provo which already have networks deployed.

Here are some pictures from the event:

Google Fiber is Coming to Charlotte

It's official! Google Fiber announced today that Charlotte is one of the next cities to receive their residential Gigabit Internet service.

We believe that Google Fiber will have a profound impact on our community in the following ways:

• Economic development. The killer app for local fiber networks is economic development. Specific areas where it could help our region include: Healthcare, Clean Energy, Education and Workforce Development, Advanced Manufacturing, Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety, and Transportation.
• Attracting talent. Creatives, software developers, web designers, advanced manufacturers, videographers...all examples of who could be attracted to live in our region with a fiber infrastructure. Not only will the individuals see value in relocating here, but companies who are recruiting employees from out-of-area will be able to list it as a quality of life benefit for being here.
• Entrepreneurship has flourished where fiber networks have been installed. Real-time online gaming, live telepresence, editing videos and pictures in the cloud, distributed super-computing, marketplace for video editing, are all potential applications.
• Increase in competition improves ISP service levels and reduces prices. Areas without much competition are left behind. One of the benefits we've already seen from Google Fiber considering Charlotte is AT&T and TWC both committing to improve their offerings in the region.
• Improved community collaboration. Numerous people in Kansas City told us that the Google Fiber project brought together the two-state metro area more than anything seen to date. Groups started to work with each other to improve the good for the community. HOAs started pitching in to pay the fees for residents to access the fiber. Libraries, schools and faith based groups were heavily engaged as well.

As excited as we are to be selected, we also realize the hard work is just beginning. How do we leverage this new infrastructure to improve our community? How can we encourage entrepreneurs to build apps leveraging the increased speed, reduced latency, and improved quality of service? How do we make sure everyone is included and people are not left out?

These questions and more remain to be answered, and it won't be Google Fiber who answer them, it will be us. We the users of a Gigabit Internet infrastructure must be co-creators of the game plan. We encourage you to join us in this effort. Please encourage your friends to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Twitter (@CltHeartsGb). Let's build the future together.

City of Charlotte Works to Close Digital Divide

Charlotte Hearts Gigabit co-founder Candice Langston reported that the City of Charlotte convened a group of representatives to discuss the “digital divide” in Charlotte. Attending organizations included the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library, the Knight Foundation, CMS, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership and Queens University.

With the impending announcement from Google about the potential roll-out of Google Fiber in Charlotte, and with internet providers such as AT&T and Time Warner currently considering or already offering similar services, the challenge and opportunity to connect more of our citizens to the internet, and leverage the enormous advantage of gigabit connectivity, is emerging. 

The City of Charlotte is actively bringing more people with the knowledge of how to engage and activate our resources are coming to the table with ideas and solutions about how to close this divide.

The City is also taking a contingency to Kansas City to attend the Gigabit City Summit in January to learn more about these opportunities and challenges, and to network with other communities that have gigabit services or are in a similar position to Charlotte and are nearing a decision from Google on Google Fiber. Charlotte Hearts Gigabit co-founds Terry Cox and Alan Fitzpatrick also plan to attend.

City officials expect Google to make an announcement before the end of 2014 on the roll out of Google Fiber. 

Candice is on the City’s cabinet to study the digital divide issue and reported that there will be monthly meetings, the next one will take place on or around Jan 11th.