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.

Gigabit update at CRTEC/BIG meeting January 21

Charlotte Hearts Gigabit co-founder Alan Fitzpatrick spoke at the joint CRTEC/BIG meeting January 21.  For presentation slides click here.

Presentation at CRTEC 1/21 on What Gigabit Internet Means for Charlotte. Recap video.

CRTEC is the Charlotte Regional Technology Executive Council. For further information on this organization click here.

BIG is the Business Innovation and Growth Council. For further information on this organization click here.

Google Fiber team works to bring ultra-fast Internet to Charlotte

The Charlotte Observer wrote a story today highlighting the status of Google Fiber in Charlotte. Reporter Megan Cassella interviewed representatives of Google, the City of Charlotte, and Charlotte Hearts Google. Highlights included:

Since the plan was finalized and submitted on May 1, teams of Google Fiber workers have been visiting the city “pretty regularly,” company spokeswoman Jenna Wandres said. One sat down with city planners at the end of last month to discuss permitting and approval processes, while others have been on the ground, surveying areas and counting utility poles.

Phil Reiger, assistant director for the city’s Department of Transportation and the project leader, said the June meeting with Google went well, and the company hadn’t asked anything the city felt was “unmanageable.” “What Google is proposing is a pretty major infrastructure investment,” Reiger said. “Disruption is inevitable.”

Wandres said Google will announce by the end of the year whether it’s going to build the fiber network in Charlotte. Until then, the company’s teams are doing things like checking to see where the cables will hang above the streets from existing utility poles and where they’ll have to be buried.

“It’s a big construction project, and we want to do it in the most efficient way possible,” Wandres said. “We’re trying to do everything we can to plan it well.”

Click here for the full Charlotte Observer article.

Fox 46 TV interviews Charlotte entrepreneur (aired 4/29/14):

Fox News Digital Journalist David Sentendrey interviewed Charlotte entrepreneur Alan Fitzpatrick about Google Fiber deployment in the city. The story was called: Google Fiber could bring 100x faster internet to Charlotte.

The story and aired video can be found by clicking the image below:

Charlotte Leaders Speak Up for Google Fiber

Local leaders can't stop talking about the benefits of having Google Fiber in Charlotte!

"I think CharlotteHeartsGoogle.com is a wonderful community campaign! I'm speaking to the choir when I sing praise about what Fiber can do for our city. I think Fiber will be another value and benefit to help with the recruitment of big business to our city. By attracting business business it will lead to more jobs - not only those the big guys bring, but those that are created by smaller companies to support the relocated businesses (also jobs related to the install of fiber).

For our thriving entrepreneurial community it will put a spotlight on the opportunities in the Tech arena (dare I say Charlotte as a future Silicon Valley?). The thought of such an opportunity to have a powerhouse in technology in the South East would be a real possibility with Fiber. Speaking from an education standpoint, it would also enable educational institutions to improve and expand the capabilities of online learning. In my opinion, these are just a few of the key benefits."

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"Google Fiber would be a welcome addition to the Charlotte community. My profession over the past eight years has been in the marketing field. The implications on potential innovations around enhancing the customer experience supported by superior internet speeds is something consumers should come to expect through this investment for our future. Should we be selected as an expansion city for fiber I look forward to understanding how this technology can provide our community with a better quality of life."

How do you think Google Fiber will transform Charlotte? Send us your thoughts via info@charlotteheartsgoogle.com.