While Charleston leaders bicker over who dissed whom regarding the South Charleston Tech Park, other West Virginia communities are pursuing high-tech by applying to be high-speed Internet test towns.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While Charleston leaders bicker over who dissed whom regarding the South Charleston Tech Park, other West Virginia communities are pursuing high-tech by applying to be high-speed Internet test towns.
Google put out a call: Who wants to be a test site for a 1-gigabit-per-second fiber network that comes right to your home or business? That's about 100 times faster than most Americans currently have, according to Google. The cyber firm expects to build networks in communities of 50,000 to 500,000 people. Only one West Virginia city fits the smallest size bracket, unless surrounding counties are included.
A lot of West Virginians cannot get a high-speed Internet connection through cable or through Verizon's advanced lines. State residents are also legitimately concerned about the proposed sale of Verizon to Frontier. Both companies say the sale would benefit the state and its Internet capabilities. Not everyone is convinced. Having a different option through Google would be good for state residents and businesses.
So far, Hurricane has shown an interest. So have people in Morgantown, who set up a Web site and Twitter account as part of the city's "We Want a Gig" campaign.
Morgantown's campaign kicked off during the WVU-Georgetown basketball game before a packed house at the coliseum. Mountaineer fans held up 1,000 signs reading "We Want a Gig." A videotape of that rally will be used in Morgantown's appeal to Google, along with videos, photos and comments from others.
Mayor Bill Byrne said enthusiastic support from townspeople and students will bolster Morgantown's chances of being picked. He added that existing research facilities and a thriving business sector make Morgantown an ideal place to test Google Fiber for Communities.
Charleston leaders deal every day with 30 years worth of economic slippage that diminished factories, neighborhoods and storefronts. These declines siphon off young talent and energy, reduce schools and depress housing markets. But there is an advantage in the new Information Era. Creative talent doesn't necessarily have to be located in large population centers. People who choose to live in or near beautiful small towns or among mountains may be just as plugged in to innovation and commerce as their urban counterparts.
Charleston and Kanawha County could make a strong pitch to Google. But the deadline is March 26. Time is short. The Cyber Age moves rapidly.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While Charleston leaders bicker over who dissed whom regarding the South Charleston Tech Park, other West Virginia communities are pursuing high-tech by applying to be high-speed Internet test towns.
Google put out a call: Who wants to be a test site for a 1-gigabit-per-second fiber network that comes right to your home or business? That's about 100 times faster than most Americans currently have, according to Google. The cyber firm expects to build networks in communities of 50,000 to 500,000 people. Only one West Virginia city fits the smallest size bracket, unless surrounding counties are included.
A lot of West Virginians cannot get a high-speed Internet connection through cable or through Verizon's advanced lines. State residents are also legitimately concerned about the proposed sale of Verizon to Frontier. Both companies say the sale would benefit the state and its Internet capabilities. Not everyone is convinced. Having a different option through Google would be good for state residents and businesses.
So far, Hurricane has shown an interest. So have people in Morgantown, who set up a Web site and Twitter account as part of the city's "We Want a Gig" campaign.
Morgantown's campaign kicked off during the WVU-Georgetown basketball game before a packed house at the coliseum. Mountaineer fans held up 1,000 signs reading "We Want a Gig." A videotape of that rally will be used in Morgantown's appeal to Google, along with videos, photos and comments from others.
Mayor Bill Byrne said enthusiastic support from townspeople and students will bolster Morgantown's chances of being picked. He added that existing research facilities and a thriving business sector make Morgantown an ideal place to test Google Fiber for Communities.
Charleston leaders deal every day with 30 years worth of economic slippage that diminished factories, neighborhoods and storefronts. These declines siphon off young talent and energy, reduce schools and depress housing markets. But there is an advantage in the new Information Era. Creative talent doesn't necessarily have to be located in large population centers. People who choose to live in or near beautiful small towns or among mountains may be just as plugged in to innovation and commerce as their urban counterparts.
Charleston and Kanawha County could make a strong pitch to Google. But the deadline is March 26. Time is short. The Cyber Age moves rapidly.
Post a comment