Click Here to Sign the Petition:
http://fiber.garrettcounty.org/form.php
Click Here to Nominate Garrett County with Google
https://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options
From The Republican last week:
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners announced that it will submit an application to partner with Google to build an ultra high speed fiber-to-the-home broadband network in Garrett County.
On February 10, 2010, Google announced a nationwide Request for Information soliciting proposals from communities across the USA to design, build and test the 1 billion bit per second (1 Giga bps) network, and offer service to at least 50,000 and potentially 500,000 people in selected communities.
Google’s goals are to develop “next generation” applications in education, medicine, social networking, as well as areas not even imagined yet. In addition, Google wants to test new ways to build and deploy fiber networks, and share knowledge gained with the world. Finally, Google will operate the network as “open access” giving users the choice of multiple service-providers, in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent environment.
Applications must be submitted on line at the Google Fiber for Communities website, www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi. Google encourages residents of communities submitting an application to support their application through the website, using the “Nominate Your Community” button on the site. The Garrett County application is titled “Garrett Google Fiber Network”, and this name should be used to identify resident support for the application. The deadline for application submission is March 26, 2010.
The Garrett County application team will be directed by the County’s IT and Economic Development departments, and will also involve active participation with the Garrett County Board of Education, Garrett College, Garrett County Memorial Hospital, Ruth Enlow Library, Garrett Community Action Committee, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, as well as various County department heads and local technology businesses.
The County has established a website and a toll free phone line dedicated to the Garrett Google Fiber Network application, and will update progress on a regular basis. Residents can submit suggestions, comments and questions at the site: http://fiber.garrettcounty.org, or on the phone at 1-866-403-5982.
Board of County Commissioners Chairman Ernie Gregg commented that “we are very excited about the possibility of bringing this level of technical high speed internet connectivity to various sectors of the County. The County Departments of Economic Development and Information Technology should be commended for their efforts to compile and complete this application”.
