Louisville says yes to Google Fiber. Funny story: AT&T, TWC didn't want that to happen

Surprise, surprise

Louisville Kentucky
Louisville ... Could soon be Google's ville

The city of Louisville, Kentucky, has approved a plan to bring Google Fiber service to residents and businesses.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports the US city's Metro Council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance granting Google and other high-speed carriers access to city-owned utility poles.

The move provides Google and its subcontractors the rights to string fiber lines, a critical component for the creation of the high-speed internet service.

"Tonight's vote puts Louisville one step closer toward becoming a Google Fiber city," Mayor Greg Fischer was quoted as saying.

Louisville is considered by Google to be a possible market for its gigabit Fiber. The Chocolate Factory says it is "exploring" a move into Louisville and is working with city officials. A key component of those plans would be the right-of-way access rights the Metro Council just passed.

Not everyone is thrilled with the possibility of Google Fiber arriving in Louisville, however. The Courier-Journal notes that both AT&T and Time-Warner Cable (TWC) have filed letters with city officials in opposition to the ordinance. Both companies offer broadband service in Louisville and would be in direct competition with Google Fiber should the service open shop.

A spokesperson for TWC told El Reg that its opposition to the plan is not borne from a fear of competition, but rather worries that the new fiber lines would be laid next to their own lines, and overzealous installers run the risk of damaging TWC's data lines when laying the new cables.

"Time Warner Cable supports the city's goal to streamline access to infrastructure in order to expand broadband service, and we've advocated this for several years. However, it's vital to ensure the protection of TWC customers, including major hospitals, universities and important facilities across Louisville, from outages resulting from a less-than-sound construction process," TWC said of the plan.

"That's why we're working constructively with the city on reasonable, common-sense amendments to ensure telecommunications providers can extend service quickly across the city."

Meanwhile, ISPs in other parts of the country are making their own efforts to defend their turf from Google Fiber. Customers in Atlanta, Georgia have reported receiving promotional mail from Comcast trying to dissuade residents of the city from abandoning their cable packages in favor of Google Fiber. ®



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