๐ City Builds Open-Access Broadband Network With Google Fiber As Its First ISP
๐ก Newskategorie: IT Security Nachrichten
๐ Quelle: tech.slashdot.org
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Google Fiber's wireline broadband is expanding to a new city for the first time in several years as part of a public-private partnership to build an open-access network that any ISP can use to offer service. The new network will be in West Des Moines, Iowa. Google Fiber "paused" plans to expand to new cities in October 2016 amid lawsuits filed by incumbent ISPs and construction problems that eventually led to the Alphabet-owned ISP's complete exit from Louisville. But in West Des Moines, Google Fiber will rely on the city to build a network of fiber conduits. "Municipalities like West Des Moines excel at building and maintaining infrastructure. At digging and laying pipes under the roads, restoring and preserving the sidewalks and green spaces, reducing traffic congestion, and lowering construction disruption," Google Fiber said in an announcement yesterday. The West Des Moines government's announcement said that "once the City installs conduit in the public right of way, broadband providers will pay a license fee to install their fiber in the City's conduit. Google Fiber will be the first tenant in the network." A conduit-license agreement "calls for Google Fiber to cover a portion of the construction cost to build conduit... through their monthly lease payments." "On a monthly basis, Google Fiber would pay the city $2.25 for each household that connects to the network," according to the Des Moines Register. Google Fiber would pay the city a minimum of $4.5 million over 20 years. Construction is expected to begin this fall and be completed in about two and a half years, the city said. While Google Fiber is slated to be the first tenant offering fiber service over the West Des Moines network, the city is hoping to spur broadband competition by letting other ISPs install their own fiber in the conduits. Current ISPs in West Des Moines include CenturyLink and Mediacom. "Every home and business in West Des Moines is eligible for a free connection point from their property to the municipal fiber conduit," the city said. "The City will be installing these connections and will contact every business and resident in the near future to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate." The city also said it aims to make high-speed broadband available to "all residents, regardless of their means." "West Des Moines plans to invest nearly $40 million" in the project, the Des Moines Register wrote, adding that city officials intend to "solicit bids for laying the underground conduit that would house the fiber-optic cables."
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