Google’s initiative to install a 1 Gbps fiber-optic broadband system in a city (hopefully Glendale) should be the inspiration for a world-class “information superhighway” in the United States. As ArsTechnica notes, national leaders recognize that U.S. broadband deployment goals and speeds are currently “second-tier”.
The huge scale of the United States presents one challenge. The huge influence of telecom and cable businesses is another challenge. Several states actually have laws on the books prohibiting municipally-constructed broadband networks (scroll down the link for a map). Who could have been behind such legislation?
On the right side of this issue as well, Google is calling for installation of fiber-optic conduit as part of federal transportation projects, and for conduit construction requirements in local road projects.