Alphabet CEO ordered Google Fiber to downsize, report claims | Hacker News Reader

Alphabet CEO ordered Google Fiber to downsize, report claims

arstechnica.com

It sucks for Google Fiber ( and anyone wanting the service), but it's been a win for consumers in Google fiber markets. In places where Google has only announced they're going to go the existing providers have already started offering higher speeds. One of the dreaded ISPs close by announced gig speeds within months of Google's coming soon announcement.

Well that sucks. I would get Google Fiber in a flat second if it was available where I live.

Like space, fiber is hard.

Google Fiber was built on classic Google arrogance. Reportedly Google tried to get city councils to legislate them a loophole so they could access and use AT&T-owned poles without agreeing to follow the same regulations other telecoms were required to follow. Google wanted to use AT&T equipment at telecom rates without actually having to be a telecom[0].

And when they weren't able to cheat to accomplish their goals, they started looking at wireless solutions now. It seems Google has quickly learned that apparently deploying fiber networks really is expensive, and you can't "just" give everyone gigabit fiber for $60 a month when you have to play by the rules.

[0]http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/12/why-att-says-it-c...

>you can't "just" give everyone gigabit fiber for $60 a month when you have to play by the rules.

The rules that encourage and enable broadband duopolies.

Actually, many of the rules involve things like being forced to provide public access television channels and hardware and service to government buildings, and sometimes actually providing a studio for the use of said government. Additionally, as telecoms are often relied on for emergency communications, there's a lot of compliance they have to reach there, and a lot of equipment they need to keep on hand for emergency situations.

Firstly, the article you linked to is three years old. Secondly, AT&T was denying Google on a technicality, which has since been resolved. That's hardly trying to legislate a loophole or cheating. Nor was Google wanting to use AT&T equipment, only attach to their poles.

There are also plenty of other places where you can get gigabit fiber for $60-$100 per month, so it very much is doable regardless of if you are Google or not.

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