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Comment by news_to_me | Hacker News Reader

> So is all hope lost for Google Fiber in Seattle? What would it take to entice Google here?

> We’ve considered spending the $700 million or more it would cost to build our own fiber network, which might provide a billion dollars in benefits each year.

Why do we want Google Fiber in cities so badly? What's the benefit over building your own network, or partnering with someone like Gigabit Squared?

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It is not just about Google Fiber despite the article title. This article presents regulations that will prevent any real ISP competition, including Gigabit Squared, and is really quite depressing as a Seattle resident. Google Fiber just happens to be a significant national competitor that people know about.

"What's the benefit over . . . partnering with someone like Gigabit Squared?"

That worked out great for the residents of Seattle.

http://www.geekwire.com/2014/gigabit-squareds-legacy-seattle...

Google has proven its ability to execute. Building your own network or trusting a no-name startup is much harder, not that its not possible. Google just seems to be the easier route.

You might check out http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2014/01/se...

"Mayor Ed Murray has declared the city’s deal with startup broadband company Gigabit Squared dead."

What's the benefit over building your own network

Many places can't due to lobbying by existing telcos at the state level. See, e.g., https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7271044 .

Cities are willing to give Google a blank check but not other ISPs, basically because Google is Google.

I said this in a reddit thread about this very subject, but we already have 2 ISPs in Seattle that deliver gigbabit speed. They just need money. And probably people.

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