Governor Granholm last week met with Google executives in California to promote Michigan as a location for testing Google fiber, the company's new ultra-high speed fiber optic broadband network. She also met with venture capitalists and high-tech company representatives in Menlo Park, Calif., to persuade them to bring investment and business to Michigan.
Google has asked communities across the nation to submit proposals by March 26 for consideration as a Google fiber network trial location. It is expected to deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than typical current access. The fiber-to-home connections of more than one gigabit per second will be offered at a competitive price to a community of at least 50,000 and up to 500,000 people.
"Google fiber is a perfect fit here, as no state can match the exploding new technology investment in Michigan in recent years," Granholm said. "Google fiber would spark economic acitivity and job creation as Michigan entrepreneurs and businesses stand to gain enormous economic advantages through this extraordinary innovation."
Granholm is encouraging communities to submit applications for the trial network, and several are already at work. They include Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Lansing/East Lansing. Those applications are supported by citizens through social media sites including Facebook and Twitter.
In July 2006 Google announced it would open a sales and operations center for Goodle's AdWords online advertising program. Hiring is ongoing at the Ann Arbor location projected to employ 250 persons. At the time, Google co-founder and Michigan native Larry Page commented, "We hope to establish as wonderful a home in Michigan for Google as I enjoyed while growing up.
More information on the Google fiber network is available at http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/. Citizens and municipal officials can visit the site to express support for Google fiber in their communities.
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