This post is a call to action to the SFIP community, in support of essential infrastructure for Santa Fe’s “innovation ecosystem.”

As many will have already read or heard, Google has announced a program under which it will install (at no charge) gigabit capacity fiber-optic telecommunications infrastructure in a few select communities, nationwide. This will be an open-architecture system, allowing any and all ISPs to utilize the bandwidth, encouraging experimentation and competition, and reducing costs, to the benefit of the consumer.

This level of telecom capacity will be essential to SFIP’s operations, to the ability of all of Santa Fe’s outstanding innovation centers to collaborate, and to connect with the fuller outside community of resources and participants.

It will also serve as essential infrastructure for economic development and equity for the entire Santa Fe  community; quality of life enhancements in education, medical care, emergency services, and information and entertainment; and the City’s ability to attract and retain young, smart, and talented people along with leading institutions.

City staff will be leading the charge in preparing the formal application, and they deserve our appreciation and support.  Here’s how to show it, easy as 1, 2, 3:

First, go to the Google site, click on the “Nominate your community” button, and complete the fields.  Make as compelling a case as you can, based on the factors described above (in your own words), or any others you feel are salient.

Second, join the Facebook group, where you’ll be able to keep current, share information, ask questions, and show a consolidated voice of community support and interest.

Third, forward this action request to your professional and personal networks in Santa Fe.  Let’s show Google the highest per capita level of engagement of any city in the country!

More information from the Google site follows.

Think Big with a Gig!

Google Fiber for Communities

From the Google fiber project home page:

Google is planning to launch an experiment that we hope will make Internet access better and faster for everyone. We plan to test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the country. Our networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We’ll offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.

Our goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better, and faster for everyone. Here are some specific things that we have in mind:

Next generation apps: We want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it’s creating new bandwidth-intensive “killer apps” and services, or other uses we can’t yet imagine.

New deployment techniques: We’ll test new ways to build fiber networks; to help inform, and support deployments elsewhere, we’ll share key lessons learned with the world.

Openness and choice: We’ll operate an “open access” network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with our past advocacy, we’ll manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory, and transparent way.

Like our WiFi network in Mountain View, the purpose of this project is to experiment and learn. Network providers are making real progress to expand and improve high-speed Internet access, but there’s still more to be done. We don’t think we have all the answers – but through our trial, we hope to make a meaningful contribution to the shared goal of delivering faster and better Internet for everyone.

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