The Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior,
Wisconsin, are partnering on a sales pitch to Google to become a test
community for an ultra-high speed fiber optic broadband network.
Mayors Don Ness of Duluth and Dave Ross of Superior
have turned the Google Twin Ports Fiber Initiative into a campaign
encouraging local residents to nominate Duluth/Superior on the webpage www.googletwinports.com.
On that website, you’ll see Dave Ross in a video appeal
to support the effort. It’s simple, you fill in your name, phone
number, e-mail address and other information, click on “Register My
Support” and then “Nominate Our Communities.” The aim is to
“demonstrate the community’s passion for fiber - high-speed Internet,
video and voice - the highly skilled workforce in our communities, the
strong, supportive entrepreneurial environment and the community’s
visionary leadership.”
The Twin Ports are competing with many other
communities’ lobbying efforts, including Topeka, Kansas, Cincinnati,
Portland, Oregon and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What’s all the fuss?
Google says it plans to build and test high-speed
Internet networks in a small number of trial locations, providing
service at speeds more than 100 times faster than what most people are
using today. It says it will offer service at a competitive price to at
least 50,000 and possibly up to 500,000 people. To find interested
communities, Google announced on February 10 that it welcomed responses
from local governments and from the public.
Google’s deadline is March 26. A decision on a target
community will be made by the end of the year, but Google says it’s too
early to announce a launch date for the broadband networks.
To raise awareness and publicity in the Twin Ports,
Duluth Mayor Don Ness even jumped into bone-chilling Lake Superior in a
T-shirt and shorts (actually in support of both Special Olympics and
the Twin Ports Google effort). “It was cold; it was great,
exhilarating. I’ve laid down the gauntlet,” he declared. “All right,
you other mayors! You want Google fiber, you jump in Lake Superior!”
Minnesota Senator and former comedian Al Franken has
made a video urging people to nominate Duluth. You can see it on
YouTube.
Google Twin Ports Fiber Initiative also is running a
contest in which anyone 18 and older may submit an idea for starting a
business that would benefit from a fiber-to-home network like the one
proposed by Google.
Five will be chosen. Each will get $500 in cash,
complimentary business plan assistance from the University of Minnesota
Duluth Center for Economic Development, free enrollment in Northeast
Entrepreneur Fund’s “Build a Business ... Here’s How” (valued at $149),
a chance to present the business plan to a panel of Duluth business
leaders and an introduction to regional economic development finance
programs.
The application deadline is March 18, and the contest
is open to any Twin Ports resident or student. A business plan is not
needed to apply. To submit ideas, go to: www.googletwinports.com/idea-award.php.
