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This decision has no impact on our operations in any of our other Fiber cities, where we continue to sign up and install new customers every day. This is just

This decision has no impact on our operations in any of our other Fiber cities, where we continue to sign up and install new customers every day. This is just irresponsible of Google at this point. This entire project has no momentum and isn't going anywhere -- why are they still signing people up when it's obvious that they'll just cut them off eventually as well? In the meantime, they prevent any of these cities from taking control of their own connectivity. They should help the cities form nonprofits to run the fiber networks, then gently remove themselves from the situation.

VectorLock 8y ago
I'm curious how much physical infrastructure Google Fiber is leaving under streets. In Louisville were they using someone else's fiber or will there be actual dark strands under Louisville now?
- bri3d 8y ago
  They're not leaving much fiber under the streets in Louisville, which is the whole reason they're pulling out - they attempted a low cost "microtrenching" strategy where they cut a small groove in the street pavement itself and tried to run the fiber through that. It was pretty much an abject failure and I doubt anyone will want the infrastructure as it's unlikely to function in even a few months. They're still "microtrenching" in other markets but at a much greater depth (6in rather than <3in) and with a different cover strategy (asphalt replacement over sealant rather than sealant only)
  - VectorLock 8y ago
    This microtrenching would be amazing if it could make its hands into people wanting to make open municipal networks, if it could actually work.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- tracker1 8y ago
  Apparently from other comments, most of the fiber was really shallow, like a couple inches deep, and poorly insulated so shifts from cold/thaw created a lot of damage and is likely unrecoverable short of re-laying a deeper infrastructure for the entire area. They were experimenting with real customers, as google often does. Only this time it was what many would consider essential infrastructure.

VectorLock 8y ago

I'm curious how much physical infrastructure Google Fiber is leaving under streets. In Louisville were they using someone else's fiber or will there be actual dark strands under Louisville now?

bri3d 8y ago
They're not leaving much fiber under the streets in Louisville, which is the whole reason they're pulling out - they attempted a low cost "microtrenching" strategy where they cut a small groove in the street pavement itself and tried to run the fiber through that. It was pretty much an abject failure and I doubt anyone will want the infrastructure as it's unlikely to function in even a few months. They're still "microtrenching" in other markets but at a much greater depth (6in rather than <3in) and with a different cover strategy (asphalt replacement over sealant rather than sealant only)
- VectorLock 8y ago
  This microtrenching would be amazing if it could make its hands into people wanting to make open municipal networks, if it could actually work.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
tracker1 8y ago
Apparently from other comments, most of the fiber was really shallow, like a couple inches deep, and poorly insulated so shifts from cold/thaw created a lot of damage and is likely unrecoverable short of re-laying a deeper infrastructure for the entire area. They were experimenting with real customers, as google often does. Only this time it was what many would consider essential infrastructure.