The INOV8 blog tracks the latest news and trends in technology and innovation throughout the world
Google, you may know by now, is planning to launch a new ultra high-speed broadband network. (A seriously fast network, like 100 times faster than that you currently use.) Google recently solicited applications from communities across the country willing to serve as trial locations for the network. The internet search giant (and future world ruler?) received more than 1,100 apps from cities and towns, some of whom were willing to go all out to show Google their love.
Meanwhile, officially, two Arkansas cities threw their hats in the ring — Fort Smith and Mountain View. Russell Gibson, IT director for the city of Fort Smith who spearheaded his city’s application efforts, told ArkansasBusiness.com that the process entailed some logistic “challenges” that may have convinced some cities not to apply. Understandable.
One of those cities was Little Rock. When Arkansas Business reported that only Fort Smith and Mountain View in Arkansas had applied, some Twitter traffic was generated wondering about Little Rock. Here’s the answer, in the form of the city’s official statement (courtesy of Little Rock assistant city manager Bryan Day).
The City of Little Rock has carefully considered the option of applying for this experimental project offered by Google and has decided against it. There were several questions posed in the application that raised logistical concerns in terms of the implementation of Google’s yet untried idea and its long range use. First and foremost, Little Rock does not own the utility poles in the City limits and has no lease agreement that could be extended to Google for the fiber installation. Secondly, in these tough economic times, Little Rock has had to cut its budget and lay off employees. The City does not have the sufficient staff in place to work with Google on the practical realization of its goals. Little Rock ‘s focus will always be on providing the best services for its citizens and will continue to do so using the resources available.
Sounds more like an excuse to me. I’m sure it has nothing to do with Comcast, Windstream, or the other local telcos. Nah, it’s because we don’t own the utility poles. Oh, and it’s also because Google’s idea is “untried”…yeah, that’s it, one of the most successful companies of the 21st century has an idea that hasn’t been tried yet, which means if they did it will probably be a failure like all of their previous ideas. Yeah, that’s it. And Little Rock wonders why we are in the bottom half in terms of technology and innovation.
[...] Independence County (Batesville), Mountain View, North Little Rock, Searcy and Siloam Springs. Little Rock considered submitting an application, but ultimately chose against [...]