3 ms·

You may have a problem in NY. In general, the more built up a place is, the more vested interests there are, and the more they are able to manipulate the legis

by tjic 17y ago

You may have a problem in NY. In general, the more built up a place is, the more vested interests there are, and the more they are able to manipulate the legislative process. Google moves at Internet speed. Out in the "real world", it's still illegal to sell cars and wine over the Internet, because the local car and liquor distributors have gotten their preferences written into the law. You may find that Google can't go the last 20 feet to your house without buying off a few hundred interest groups, politicians, and unions.

pavs 17y ago
Thanks man. I feel much better now.
jonknee 17y ago
Not to mention it's harder to build a network where everything is paved over and digging requires navigating through a couple hundred years of previous projects (and having to use union labor for it). I don't envy anyone having to plan a network buildout in NYC. In many other parts of the country it's mostly digging through dirt and in when you're in a neighborhood using a water jet to tunnel under driveways. Piece of cake.
- Retric 17y ago
  Rolling out fiber in NYC takes less digging than you might think, there is a lot of open space where huge bundles of copper wire where used by the telcos. It can become expensive to rewire a building, but cable companies did this not so long ago.
joezydeco 17y ago
It's not just NY. It's a lot of places. Many towns have locked down franchise agreements for telephone and cable tv "utilities" just like they do for water or power. If Google admits they're going to deliver advanced Google Voice or YouTube services over these lines, that's infringing on these agreements and the towns face lawsuits from the legacy carriers. You can't just hop on poles and start stringing wires all over the place.
- thrdOriginal 17y ago
  But I highly doubt Google is planning on offering "Cable Video." In the same way that VOIP is differentiated from Voice Service according to the FCC, offering IPTV does not require a Service Provider to register as a Cable Franchise. VOIP & IPTV are seen as "applications," not a native service type.
  - joezydeco 17y ago
    Google's own press release suggests they're looking for new ways to use ultra-highspeed broadband: Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes. Or collaborating with classmates around the world while watching live 3-D video of university lecture. Now look at how Geneva, Illinois fought off AT&T U-Verse (called "Project Lightspeed" in the experimental phase) because they already had television franchise agreements in place and didn't want to get sued by the cable company: http://www.geneva.il.us/att/Lightspeed.htm http://www.geneva.il.us/att/Lightspeed.htm (Note, also, that Geneva tried to set up their own broadband network and was roadblocked by AT&T. Karma is a bitch.) I'm not suggesting that Google is looking to offer cable TV. I'm just implying that you can't waltz into a town and offer these kinds of services without raising the hackles of the existing companies that are providing utility services in most typical towns. A town might willingly invite Google with open arms, but that doesn't mean it's a done deal by a long shot. Expect lawsuits.
    - thrdOriginal 17y ago
      Interesting, I hadn't heard of that. Of course there will be lawsuits, but my point was that by current definitions they should not be in violation of cable franchise agreements, even if they are allowing users to download full-feature films in < 5 minutes.
Mankhool 17y ago
Therein lies the opportunity. An abundant inventory of dark fibre. The financial resources to lay the foundation for a new city. Everyone will have fibre to their door. I'm no fanboy, but Googleville anyone?

by tjic 17y ago

pavs 17y ago

Thanks man. I feel much better now.

jonknee 17y ago

Not to mention it's harder to build a network where everything is paved over and digging requires navigating through a couple hundred years of previous projects (and having to use union labor for it). I don't envy anyone having to plan a network buildout in NYC. In many other parts of the country it's mostly digging through dirt and in when you're in a neighborhood using a water jet to tunnel under driveways. Piece of cake.

Retric 17y ago
Rolling out fiber in NYC takes less digging than you might think, there is a lot of open space where huge bundles of copper wire where used by the telcos. It can become expensive to rewire a building, but cable companies did this not so long ago.

joezydeco 17y ago

It's not just NY. It's a lot of places. Many towns have locked down franchise agreements for telephone and cable tv "utilities" just like they do for water or power. If Google admits they're going to deliver advanced Google Voice or YouTube services over these lines, that's infringing on these agreements and the towns face lawsuits from the legacy carriers. You can't just hop on poles and start stringing wires all over the place.

thrdOriginal 17y ago
But I highly doubt Google is planning on offering "Cable Video." In the same way that VOIP is differentiated from Voice Service according to the FCC, offering IPTV does not require a Service Provider to register as a Cable Franchise. VOIP & IPTV are seen as "applications," not a native service type.
- joezydeco 17y ago
  Google's own press release suggests they're looking for new ways to use ultra-highspeed broadband: Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes. Or collaborating with classmates around the world while watching live 3-D video of university lecture. Now look at how Geneva, Illinois fought off AT&T U-Verse (called "Project Lightspeed" in the experimental phase) because they already had television franchise agreements in place and didn't want to get sued by the cable company: http://www.geneva.il.us/att/Lightspeed.htm http://www.geneva.il.us/att/Lightspeed.htm (Note, also, that Geneva tried to set up their own broadband network and was roadblocked by AT&T. Karma is a bitch.) I'm not suggesting that Google is looking to offer cable TV. I'm just implying that you can't waltz into a town and offer these kinds of services without raising the hackles of the existing companies that are providing utility services in most typical towns. A town might willingly invite Google with open arms, but that doesn't mean it's a done deal by a long shot. Expect lawsuits.
  - thrdOriginal 17y ago
    Interesting, I hadn't heard of that. Of course there will be lawsuits, but my point was that by current definitions they should not be in violation of cable franchise agreements, even if they are allowing users to download full-feature films in < 5 minutes.

Mankhool 17y ago

Therein lies the opportunity. An abundant inventory of dark fibre. The financial resources to lay the foundation for a new city. Everyone will have fibre to their door. I'm no fanboy, but Googleville anyone?