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Also worth noting that Google isn't doing this because: 1) They want to be an ISP 2) They feel bad for America and want us to enjoy faster internet. They're

Also worth noting that Google isn't doing this because: 1) They want to be an ISP 2) They feel bad for America and want us to enjoy faster internet. They're doing it because they have plans for products which necessitate nationwide high speed internet. I don't know what those plans are... maybe making YouTube the everything-video-delivery-system, maybe massively collaborative work tools as they expand Google Docs et al... maybe something we haven't even heard about... but they've got something coming that they require Fiber for. This is a business plan.

mabbo 12y ago
And you know what? I'm fine with that. If Google wants to go and improve my internet experience as a part of some master plan where they do make a boatload of money, I'm perfectly happy to go along with that plan.
- cheald 12y ago
  It's almost like mutually-beneficial exchange is the backbone of our economy or something!
bsder 12y ago
> This is a business plan. It is, but not because they have a plan beyond it, though. Cox/Time-Warner/etc. basically shook down Google for money a couple of years ago. Google backed down and the last-mile ISPs thought they won. Google, of course, was extremely unhappy to painfully discover that there was insufficient competition if the ISP's decided to play dirty and block their ads. So, Google now looks at the ISP's as a pure, existential threat that they must neutralize. So, even if the ISP's upgrade or get really cheap, Google doesn't care. This is about making sure that no company ever has the ability to cut off Google's flow of ads to the consumer ever again. Google will roll out fiber even if it's somewhat unprofitable just to slowly squeeze the ISP's into obeisance.
- mkr-hn 12y ago
  I learned a new word today.
  - bsder 12y ago
    Glad to provide a valuable public service. :)
  - daniel-cussen 12y ago
    Yeah me too. obeisance: noun: deferential respect.
    - Jgrubb 12y ago
      He, me three. I thought they mistyped obedience.
      - jksmith 12y ago
        Apparently you guys haven't heard enough church sermons in your lives.
        mjgoins 12y ago
        Or maybe didn't read any Poe.
        mkr-hn 12y ago
        Never could get in to Poe, and the church didn't want me.
        jksmith 12y ago
        toosh
- sushirain 12y ago
  Vertical integration is a powerful business strategy.
blueskin_ 12y ago
Steal even more of your personal data, I'm sure.

mabbo 12y ago

And you know what? I'm fine with that. If Google wants to go and improve my internet experience as a part of some master plan where they do make a boatload of money, I'm perfectly happy to go along with that plan.

cheald 12y ago
It's almost like mutually-beneficial exchange is the backbone of our economy or something!

bsder 12y ago

> This is a business plan. It is, but not because they have a plan beyond it, though. Cox/Time-Warner/etc. basically shook down Google for money a couple of years ago. Google backed down and the last-mile ISPs thought they won. Google, of course, was extremely unhappy to painfully discover that there was insufficient competition if the ISP's decided to play dirty and block their ads. So, Google now looks at the ISP's as a pure, existential threat that they must neutralize. So, even if the ISP's upgrade or get really cheap, Google doesn't care. This is about making sure that no company ever has the ability to cut off Google's flow of ads to the consumer ever again. Google will roll out fiber even if it's somewhat unprofitable just to slowly squeeze the ISP's into obeisance.

mkr-hn 12y ago
I learned a new word today.
- bsder 12y ago
  Glad to provide a valuable public service. :)
- daniel-cussen 12y ago
  Yeah me too. obeisance: noun: deferential respect.
  - Jgrubb 12y ago
    He, me three. I thought they mistyped obedience.
    - jksmith 12y ago
      Apparently you guys haven't heard enough church sermons in your lives.
      - mjgoins 12y ago
        Or maybe didn't read any Poe.
        mkr-hn 12y ago
        Never could get in to Poe, and the church didn't want me.
        jksmith 12y ago
        toosh
sushirain 12y ago
Vertical integration is a powerful business strategy.

blueskin_ 12y ago

Steal even more of your personal data, I'm sure.