Posted on March - 28 - 2010
Germantown jumps on chance to be one of Google’s test cities
Not wanting to be outdone by Memphis, Germantown city officials are scrambling to get its application in by Friday to be one of the test cities for the experimental high speed fiber network.
“We think philosophically by the way we do business, we are a good match with Google. Conservatively, about 75 to 80 percent of our residents are tuned in and turned on by the Internet. We’re a wired city,” said Germantown City Administrator Patrick Lawton.
The city’s all-volunteer Telecommunications Commission suggested Germantown apply. The commission decided it wasn’t in the city’s best interest to partner with Memphis.
“We did not think that (a partnership) was a viable submission based on the guidelines we read,” said Rik Ditter who is Google project’s subcommittee chairman. Ditter said the commission feared Google couldn’t wire all of Memphis without “redlining or cherry-picking neighborhoods in Memphis, which we were against.”
The commission felt Germantown had an advantage of having a compact area of 19 square miles and just over 40,000 in population. “We think Germantown is exactly what Google is looking for,” Ditter said.
“We think we’ll do better standing on our own,” said Telecommunications Commission Chairman Donna C. Newman. “It’s harder to get your arms around a larger city. It’s way more complicated to do business with Memphis. We think Germantown can be as nimble and as flexible as Google would expect their partner to be.”
– Lela Garlington: 529-2349
Similar Posts:
- In push for broadband prize, Memphis video tells Google: ‘Hook us up!’
- Coffee Break: Finalist for CCC presidency withdraws
- Memphis needs to be more livable to be more competitive, urban experts say
- MemphisConnect bloggers direct traffic to Bluff City
- Memphis Mayor A C Wharton gets expert advice on revitalizing Overton Square
