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Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

googlefiberblog.blogspot.com

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Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#91

Post by weej »

unwiredben wrote: post #66
clauretano wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is how it goes with most service roll outs. If the people in the suburbs are really miffed that they aren't one of the first areas picked for Google Fiber, perhaps they should consider the downsides of living in the sprawl. Congrats to any Austin HNers on your freedom from [insert Austin cable monopoly here]

We actually have a bit of a cable duopoly in a lot of the city. Both Grande Communications and Time Warner run systems here, although Grande's build-out area is a bit smaller.

Don't forget AT&T.

Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#93

Post by penny500 »

njharman wrote: post #85
intopieces wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The people might by friendly, but aren't the taxes quite high? Last I read, the state+federal together added up to almost 50%.

Texas has no income tax. Federal tax applies equally to living in any state and seems ridiculous to mention. Property tax is high, 2%-3%. Sales tax is high, 8.25%

California's base sales tax is 7.25%, but CA's municipalities can bring that up to 9.25%. I believe ~8.5% is the average for the Bay Area.

Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#94

Post by penny500 »

Bud wrote: post #70
hadees wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is why http://www.battlegroundtexas.com/ is so important. Texas needs some competition for it's top offices. Having a whole state run by one party is a terrible idea.

Only if that one party is Republicans, apparently. California is currently run by Democrats and, lo and behold, now has a projected surplus.

This is downright embarrassing economic analysis. I hope you're just joking.

Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#95

Post by aspensmonster »

BryanB55 wrote: post #78

This is kind of funny... AT&T suddenly decided to offer a 1gb network: http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=24032&cdvn=news&#3...

So they're aiming for the suburbs (where they already have FTTN) before Google has a chance to roll out from the city. This is gonna be good. Microwaving my popcorn already.

Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#96

Post by DoggettCK »

iamdave wrote: post #65
DoggettCK wrote: post #29

Announced the day after I signed a contract on a house outside the service area. It was clearly me holding you back the whole time, Austin. I'm so sorry.

You can redeem yourself by washing your car and summoning the rain gods. That little sprinkle we got last week was a bit of a tease.

I literally did get my car washed last week, and the next evening, we had water 10 feet past the doors at work. Willie Nelson never should've built this place below the parking lot.

This is the worst superpower.

Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#97

Post by loganfrederick »

brd wrote: post #38
specialp wrote: post #34

Google here is doing what they do best which is sticking to their core business of advertising/search while spending a bit here and there to disrupt businesses that they see as threatening to their core business. It is to Google's advantage to have fast pipes to their users. Right now they are getting their intended result from people in the USA. If Kansas City can have gigabit internet for a low price why can't I? T…

"In business, I look for economic castles protected by unbreachable moats" - Warren Buffett I completely agree that its in Google's interest to have faster pipes. But I think Google Fiber may just be another moat for Google, another way for them to hinder their perceived threats. This was an excellent write up on Google's strategy to build business moats (from 2011): http://abovethecrowd.com/2011/03/24/freight-train-…

I tried search for a direct link and didn't immediately see one, but Buffett himself has said before that he likes Google and, if it were older and had a slightly less risky profile for him, it would be the ideal company. It's core business is vitally important and is very capital efficient.

Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#98

Post by mayneack »

mayneack wrote: post #47
clauretano wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is how it goes with most service roll outs. If the people in the suburbs are really miffed that they aren't one of the first areas picked for Google Fiber, perhaps they should consider the downsides of living in the sprawl. Congrats to any Austin HNers on your freedom from [insert Austin cable monopoly here]

I wonder if this timeline is slow enough for a given city's cable monopoly to respond with price/terms/bandwidth competition in time to head off google fiber. Doesn't mean they will, but I would think that this is slow enough that they could theoretically ramp it up.

I guess this is my answer: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5521343

Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#99

Post by gonzo »

jmsduran wrote: post #32
j4ustin wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They said the roll-out was focusing on Austin City Limits, and more specifically they stated the desire to release Fiber in public buildings (offices, hospitals, schools, etc.). This paired with the UT Austin teacher video they released leads me to believe it'll be available to the campus area, probably downtown as well (St. Davids main and Brackenridge Medical Center) and probably the surrounding neighborhoods. Pers…

I hope the fiber roll-out will also include the 78758/78759 Austin areas, not just because I live in the area, but also cause Google's Austin office is located there too :).

That office is limited to sales and marketing.

But yes, I'd expect that 78758/78759 was lit.

Re: Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

#100

Post by beachstartup »

deltaqueue wrote: post #69
kyrra wrote: post #44

For those wondering where Google will roll out, we don't have exact details, but we have some information. 1) They said they will stick to Austin City Limits, which means within these boundaries [1]. 2) For those that followed up with how KC operated, Google runs their lines on electrical poles and all places the city power company has lines. This is one of the big things KC and Austin have in common: city owned elec…

I spoke with someone in Grande's (competing ISP) network planning division and he explained that getting into new buildings downtown was very expensive / difficult given Austin's telco requirements (have to dig up streets, etc.). Is this also the case for Google's fiber layout, or is there any speculation that buildings (condo and apartment) downtown will see this service?

what's expensive to the local isp is probably not to google.
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