Thanks to Dennis Whiteman (@fastpipe) on Twitter for sending me this fascinating article of our City’s efforts to provide a fiber optic network for the city. The article tells of a group of computer ” techies” forming the Alliance. Shortened from The Stillwater Fiber Optic Alliance.
The most alarming bit or me was that this effort was started back in 1994! The internet as we know it was a mere infant.
The following paragraphs contain a summary of occurrences which lead to the construction of the fiberoptic system within the city of Stillwater. During the process, the design went from a “to the house” full-fiber system back to a bare bones design and then to state of the art system constructed with a partner building it with capacities beyond anything originally dreamed at the time the project was a glimmer in a crystal ball.
Read the whole article for yourself over at stillwater.org.
Ultimately Chickasaw got the contract to provide the fiber system.
The real difference between these efforts in the late 90′s and Google’s plan today are what the main priorities. Now of course Google hasn’t given details of how everything will go down and they probably only have a rough idea at best.
Google has stated that their goal is to get ultra high speed internet access in the homes. The priorities of the Alliance were initially similar but fiber only made it to a few select homes. The system was being multi-purposed for automated meter reading, CATV, and telephone.
I hope that Google keeps the focus on the homes because all the other business uses will still be possible. I’d imagine that Google would offer their PowerMeter system. A great way to monitor your homes power consumption. The possibilities of this Google backed fiber system are endless.
Of course our first goal is getting Google to pick Stillwater for this fiber system. If you have’t nominated Stillwater do it now. http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi
