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Based on the expansion plans I looked at on the Google Fiber website, Charlotte's suburb cities are specifically not included in their expansion plans. Look at Atlanta or RDU on the map and you'll see they've made a point to highlight that they are expanding to those cities AND metros. Charlotte appears to only apply to city limits.
This means nothing.
Google added Kansas City, Mo one month after initially selecting Kansas City, Kan back in 2011.
Quote:
Originally Posted by clevelandguy811
If we do get Google Fiber assumptions are being made that the huts are being located so that the city of Charlotte only has the service. So folks on the outskirts of the city may have less availability. But at the same time Charlotte can offer this as a benefit for potentially relocating/retaining businesses and South Carolina can't add this to their incentives when they try to get companies to cross the border ala Continental Tire/LPL Financial.
They can expand outside Charlotte anytime they want quite easily. All they need is a space/land and power for the fiber huts. The huts, which each include the equipment required to support up to 20,000 homes in a five-mile radius, are small structures, about 12-by-27 and 9 feet tall, though the size varies. The fiber huts are similar to telephone company central office buildings that one can currently see throughout the area. They don't even need a "hut". They can and will use existing building space in areas they want to serve that are more than 5 miles from Charlotte hut sites. There is nothing really special about the locations that Charlotte offered except that they were cheap and its easier to negotiate 1 lease deal than multiple deals.
Charlotte proper offered a very nice initial footprint and was easy to negotiate with. It's not a coincidence that Charlotte and Raleigh are both charging Google $2/sqft. Google will now take that framework to surrounding municipalities that might be more attractive to them than certain parts of Charlotte that are close to potential hut sites. Even those in unincorporated areas have a shot as long as you are within 5 miles of VFD, which also has land and power and is paid for by your tax dollars. Google will ask for the exact same terms/conditions take it or leave it.
Expect other Charlotte area municipalities to be announced in the next few months. Even some in South Carolina.
WCNC says that Google does not immediately plan to install fiber everywhere throughout Charlotte. Areas will be chosen based on "neighborhood interest". Neighborhoods showing more interest in the service will get the priority.
Google added Kansas City, Mo one month after initially selecting Kansas City, Kan back in 2011.
They can expand outside Charlotte anytime they want quite easily. All they need is a space/land and power for the fiber huts. The huts, which each include the equipment required to support up to 20,000 homes in a five-mile radius, are small structures, about 12-by-27 and 9 feet tall, though the size varies. The fiber huts are similar to telephone company central office buildings that one can currently see throughout the area. They don't even need a "hut". They can and will use existing building space in areas they want to serve that are more than 5 miles from Charlotte hut sites. There is nothing really special about the locations that Charlotte offered except that they were cheap and its easier to negotiate 1 lease deal than multiple deals.
Charlotte proper offered a very nice initial footprint and was easy to negotiate with. It's not a coincidence that Charlotte and Raleigh are both charging Google $2/sqft. Google will now take that framework to surrounding municipalities that might be more attractive to them than certain parts of Charlotte that are close to potential hut sites. Even those in unincorporated areas have a shot as long as you are within 5 miles of VFD, which also has land and power and is paid for by your tax dollars. Google will ask for the exact same terms/conditions take it or leave it.
Expect other Charlotte area municipalities to be announced in the next few months. Even some in South Carolina.
There are already fiber lines running throughout Charlotte. RST Fiber put them down. They include the Ballantyne area. I have read that Google will lease lines that already exist. For this reason, I think that communities near an RST line will get service faster. In fact, you can already sign up for gigabit internet through RST ($99/month) if you live in their footprint.
There are already fiber lines running throughout Charlotte. RST Fiber put them down. They include the Ballantyne area. I have read that Google will lease lines that already exist. For this reason, I think that communities near an RST line will get service faster. In fact, you can already sign up for gigabit internet through RST ($99/month) if you live in their footprint.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumbo
There are already fiber lines running throughout Charlotte. RST Fiber put them down. They include the Ballantyne area. I have read that Google will lease lines that already exist. For this reason, I think that communities near an RST line will get service faster. In fact, you can already sign up for gigabit internet through RST ($99/month) if you live in their footprint.
RST started when they ran fiber for the Kings Mountain data centers. That has been expanded into town. I've seen them running fiber along 74 between Kings Mountain & Gastonia. I'm not delusional about this, but I think that when they expand they'll be looking to the west early on rather than last.
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