Oakland Vies to Become Google's Ultra High-Speed Internet Test Site
Kwan Booth
From: Boyd, Karen <KB...@oaklandnet.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 6:41 PM
Subject: News Release: Oakland Vies to Become Google's Ultra High-Speed Internet Test Site
To:
News from
Office of the Mayor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Boyd, (510) 449-4401
March 26, 2010 kb...@oaklandnet.com
OR
Cynthia Mackey, 510-835-3334
Oakland Vies to Become Google’s Ultra High-Speed Internet Test Site
One-Gigabit/second Network Would Be a Vital Platform to Expand and Grow Oakland’s Model City Initiatives
Oakland, CA – The City of Oakland joined about 600 other communities nationwide today in a spirited competition for the honor of becoming a test-site for Google’s experimental ultra high-speed broadband networks. With speeds more than 100 times faster than anything the average American has experienced, the ultra-fast fiber is intended to stimulate the development of new applications and innovations not currently possible with existing speed. Google’s intent is to see just how communities will use virtually unbridled Internet bandwidth.
In the fierce competition for the coveted honor, Oakland branded its effort “Oakland digs the gig!” and created a Facebook page and YouTube channel dedicated to demonstrating the community’s commitment and enthusiasm. Even Mayor Dellums got involved, creating a video promoting Oakland to Google and encouraging citizens to post their comments to Facebook and YouTube.
“Why should Google select Oakland?” asked Mayor Ron Dellums in the video. “Quite simply, because Oakland citizens get involved. Oakland is a dynamic city with unparalleled community involvement. When I became Mayor, Oaklanders from all walks of life formed more than 40 community task forces to make this city better. The Google experimental fiber network in Oakland will ignite the same kind of enthusiasm. Oakland is a vibrant city, and our citizens will provide the energy and innovation to show new value in high-speed networks.”
Oakland’s application began as a grassroots effort with a community team of businesses, entrepreneurs, non-profits and literacy and technology task force members. They highlighted the benefits to the City and the natural crossover with the Model City vision that the Mayor has outlined. The team has worked collaboratively with the City’s Department of Information
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Oakland Responds to the Google Fiber for Communities Project Page 2
Technology to submit a stand-out application. Oakland believes that its diverse community, the missions of its varied non-profit and for-profit organizations, geography and embedded infrastructure put it in a competitive position.
There are many reasons why Oakland would be a good choice, but one of the best is its people. Oakland is encouraging businesses, non-profits and residents to voice their support by posting comments or video on Facebook and YouTube, using these social media platforms to state why Google should come to Oakland, describe what they would do with ultra-fast access to the Internet and—perhaps most importantly—show Google the spirit of Oakland. The Facebook and YouTube channels will be up until Oakland is notified of a decision, which is anticipated at the end of the year.
For more information about the Google Fiber to Communities project, go to http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/. To view the Mayor’s video or post one of your own, go to www.youtube.com/user/CityofOaklandCA. To post a comment on Oakland Digs the Gig Facebook page, go to http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000924733083.
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