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Tech Sessions: Columbia perfect for Google broadband test market

In the summer of 2008, not long after Business Week named Columbia the best small city in Missouri for startup businesses, Jim Spencer moved Newsy.com to Columbia in a partnership with the University of Missouri.

“We want to show that Missouri is open for business,” Spencer said, “and that you can move your company here and compete effectively on the global stage.” Providing an information service via the Internet, Spencer was able to locate the offices around the corner from the Reynolds Journalism Institute and the MU School of Journalism.

On Feb. 10, Google announced it will soon be entering the Internet service provider market. Google is planning an experimental fiber-to-the-home network in one or more trial locations across the country. Google has made a Request for Information to interested municipalities so it can find out more about potential communities. The company will use this information to determine where to build its network.

Google’s plan is to create open, ultra-high-speed broadband networks that will provide speeds of more than one gigabit per second, somewhere between 50 to 100 times faster than Internet speeds currently available in this area. Google has also stated it will make this an “open access network” and allow other businesses to provide services, which gives clients more choice and promotes competition. As Google experiments and discovers new ways to get fiber into homes, it will share the knowledge with the world. The plan is to “experiment with new ways to make the Web better and faster for everyone.”

The network Google proposes offers much more than the ability to download “a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes.” There are great economic opportunities related to data and information distribution at this speed.

University entities like MU Extension and the Reynolds Journalism Institute could change the ways we learn and create, aggregate and distribute new media. Our medical facilities could develop new remote-treatment systems not available at current access speeds, and small businesses would be able to compete on an international scale with ease.

In December, Keith Politte, manager of the RJI Technology Testing Center, co-coordinated a REDI and RJI-facilitated community summit to discuss economic opportunity as it relates to new media. In Google’s announcement, Politte sees many “economic opportunities related to new media, education, MU extension, research and business startups.”

The excitement has already spawned discussions among REDI, the university and the city of Columbia. Politte proposed the parties meet again to put together a proposal for Google to consider. This includes a public request for Columbians to “submit their top five reasons why Google should choose Columbia for ultra-high-speed Internet.” Politte would like to see “rationales from everybody.” Lists should be sent to Keith Politte at polittek@rjionline.org or City Economic Development Director Mike Brooks at jmbrooks@gocolumbiamo.com.

Columbia has a great opportunity. This town is poised on the forefront of a new information-based economy, and we have a critical mass of elements that make Columbia the perfect place for an experiment of this nature. Please take the time to learn more about Google’s announcement, about how ultra-high-speed Internet will improve Columbia, and contact your community leaders to ask how you can help.

www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/.