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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

#61

Post by kyrra »

bretthoerner wrote: post #54
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…

> To me this means south and east Austin. Why is that?

Thinking about it now, I'd say south Austin more than east.

Check out the population density map of austin (PDF): http://www.austinchamber.com/do-business/files/maps/PopDensi...

If I were google, I would want to deploy to the more dense places (that could afford the service).

South Austin seems to be the more "hip" place to live, and I think people in their 20-35 age range would be more likely to want to jump on Google Fiber. I could be totally wrong, but it's just a guess.

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

#62

Post by thrownaway2424 »

jseliger wrote: post #55
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]

>perhaps they should consider the downsides of living in the sprawl. I'm sympathetic to this point of view, but in many places it's not possible for everyone to live in the city center because of development restrictions that drive up prices (see here: http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2012/05/face... one discussion that I've posted before, albeit about California).

That article you linked demonstrates the opposite of what you claimed. It's talking about building restrictions in the sprawl itself and, in the Lucas case, in the middle of a rural area.

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

#63

Post by k3n »

kyrra wrote: post #60
k3n wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard a lot of things from AT&T customers, and "satisfied" is never one of them. This is too little too late, and I'm pretty sure that most of their current customers can't wait to jump ship -- regardless of whatever carrots that they bring out at the last minute.

Uverse has been solid for me. I've had them for 4 years now and they've had very limited downtime (a lot less then I had with TimeWarner). I'll happily move to Google Fiber, but Uverse has treated me just fine. While I wish their upload speeds were faster, but I haven't really had any options that were faster. What issues have you had with them exactly?

I've never used them -- but my friends constantly complain of disconnects, slow speeds, shotty tech support, high rates, etc. While I'm sure these types of problems are often localized, I've heard the same complaints from geographically diverse friends.

My only problem is that they're a monopoly slowly reconstituting itself like the T-1000 from Terminator[1].

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-1000

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

#65

Post by iamdave »

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.

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

#66

Post by unwiredben »

clauretano wrote: post #9
pash wrote: post #2

> Our goal is to start connecting homes in Austin by mid-2014. The timeline Google's followed in Kansas City suggests it will be another year until service is available to a significant chunk of Austin, and likely well into 2016 or beyond before the whole city is hooked up. Fiber to whatever suburbs are invited to the party will likely follow after that. But hopefully the build-out gets ramped up, both in Austin and…

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.

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

#67

Post by freyr »

bratsche wrote: post #13
ericabiz wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The great thing about working for an Internet company (I'm assuming you do since you've been on Hacker News for a while) is that you can really live anywhere. I moved my most recent startup to Austin after living in the Valley for 10 years and SoCal for 2. I'm already ridiculously happy with the move. And it seems like much of California is following me here--we are even getting an In-N-Out Burger this year! Austin i…

I live in Dallas and I like the lower cost of living and everything. But now I wish I lived in Austin. :) The thing I hate about both Dallas and Austin is driving. I used to live northeast and could walk everywhere much easier. Austin seems to be pretty bike-friendly though, and Dallas is becoming more so.

After growing up in Southern California and moving to a city in the north east, I really miss driving. And the sun. Austin is sounding better every day.

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

#68

Post by sounds »

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.

Grande is a small(ish) Texas ISP:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_Communications

I do hope Time-Warner is severely disrupted, though.

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

#69

Post by deltaqueue »

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?

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

#70

Post by Bud »

hadees wrote: post #41
xradionut wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Austin is in a state, (Texas), with a lot of pending issues coming to roost... education, traffic, migration, water/drought, social safety net. As much as I love my native state, I don't see any leadership addressing these.

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.
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