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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

#131

Post by dragonwriter »

OGinparadise wrote: post #126
dragonwriter wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Same with Google, it's extremely expensive to wire a significant number of their users Recent published estimates have been that it would about $11 billion to roll out nationwide in the US. That is a lot of money, sure, but less than they paid for Motorola Mobility recently. Not prohibitively expensive for Google.

Recent published estimates have been that it would about $11 billion to roll out nationwide in the US. Maybe $110 billion, $11 Billion doesn't go far in US

> Maybe $110 billion, $11 Billion doesn't go far in US

I've gone and rechecked, the $11 billion number from recently published estimates is for a nationwide rollout to a scale comparable to other nationwide broadband providers "passing" about 15% of homes, and is exclusive of costs of actually acquiring customers.

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

#132

Post by dragonwriter »

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…

> So I do not think Google will ever do this nationwide as it is a bad business to be in with enormous red tape, capital expenditures and geographic distribution.

Until and unless network neutrality is a secure market principle (and its not in the US now with weak regulation for fixed broadband and even weaker for mobile, and carriers fighting the FCC's authority on even those weak regulations), the revenue from Google's services face a permanent risk from carriers adopting rent-seeking policies (this is much the same kind of risk that Google faced from the potential of a mobile OS monopoly or a browser monopoly); as such, as much as being a carrier is a bad business to be in in general, its potentially an even worse business for Google not to be in.

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

#133

Post by tomrod »

caw wrote: post #129
tomrod wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lived in both Austin and North Dallas. Compared to Austin traffic, Dallas is a parking lot. Austin has random spouts of traffic and a plethora of backroads. Dallas, the side highways are the backroads. Beltline Road would be backed up from 6 AM to 2 AM daily. Awful, awful traffic. We tried to go from Dallas to Plano one time on a weekday at 4:30. Took 3 hours for a 15-20 mile trip. Nuts to that.

There's a couple of choke points where you can't take backroads in Austin without going all out of your way. In particular, anything crossing Lady Bird Lake.

Redbud Trail is great.

Other than that, yeah, you're going to fight traffic.

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

#134

Post by tomrod »

clavalle wrote: post #117
tomrod wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Austinite here. East of I35 is commonly known as the "wrong side of the tracks". If Austin is wiring up for business and residential focus, they'll do west, some limited up north, downtown, and down Congress Avenue & First Avenue. They might extend to the west of MoPac (Loop 1, follows the old Missouri-Pacific line) but I'm not sure that the neighborhoods there are officially part of Austin or incorporated as a small…

Yeah...I'm an Austinite, too. Mueller and on down through 2nd Street out to about Chicon east of 35 (an a bit beyond) is full of 20-30 something professionals. It will likely see some action. Maybe Riverside because of the college students but I kinda doubt it. Zilker, SoCo, and Travis Heights have a good shot down south. All of the neighborhoods around downtown and UT are almost certain to see it first. I gotta beli…

In addition, I'd run it up 360. In my understanding there are a number of tech businesses/business parks out that way.

I'd be surprised if they go as far north as Wells Branch, though the infrastructure along the rail line leading along MoPaC is certainly available.

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

#135

Post by tomrod »

jambonetoeufs wrote: post #116
tomrod wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Austinite here. East of I35 is commonly known as the "wrong side of the tracks". If Austin is wiring up for business and residential focus, they'll do west, some limited up north, downtown, and down Congress Avenue & First Avenue. They might extend to the west of MoPac (Loop 1, follows the old Missouri-Pacific line) but I'm not sure that the neighborhoods there are officially part of Austin or incorporated as a small…

East of I35 hasn't really been known as the "wrong side of the tracks" for several years now. It's changed tremendously since what it was like in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

I work with what I know. Sorry for the misidentification. Some friends of mine just north of Lady Bird Lake had their door kicked in a few months back by a few neighborhood kids. My opinion of the area was informed by old history and that incident.

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

#136

Post by OGinparadise »

dragonwriter wrote: post #131
OGinparadise wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recent published estimates have been that it would about $11 billion to roll out nationwide in the US. Maybe $110 billion, $11 Billion doesn't go far in US

> Maybe $110 billion, $11 Billion doesn't go far in US I've gone and rechecked, the $11 billion number from recently published estimates is for a nationwide rollout to a scale comparable to other nationwide broadband providers "passing" about 15% of homes, and is exclusive of costs of actually acquiring customers.

Nationwide and 15% of homes is kinda different. I say this because Verizon did spend tens of billion on FIOS and barely reached tens of millions of people.

Also doing it in a few cities as an experiment and doing it as telecom provider are very different too (heavily regulated and extremely expensive). Just imagine what it takes to dig in Manhattan with all the permits, payments, licenses, unions etc etc...

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

#137

Post by mesozoic »

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.

There's also AT&T with Uverse. I'm pretty sure Grande just leases lines but may have better service.
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