GREENSBORO, N.C.—
The City of Greensboro invited the community to share its ideas at a public forum Wednesday on how to lure Google to test its ultra high-speed broadband internet system in the Gate City.Getting Google to consider Greensboro for testing its new internet system, which offers broadband service more than 100 times faster than available services, was enough to bring area bloggers and the social networking community to Council Chambers in Greensboro to discuss the application process Wednesday night.
"We need to make a case that Greensboro is a better place than other places. A place that may be cheaper because they have a higher population density, places that might give them more PR bang for the buck because they have a lot of high tech industry -- this is the place they want to show this test." Greensboro blogger Ed Cone said.
The city plans to file an application with Google as a test city for their new internet system, but asked the community to share its ideas.
"One great asset we can offer Google for coming here is we have five universities, six now with Elon Law School, which would give them a pool of local talent they can tap into." said Daniel Moore, who attended the meeting.
Page High School Student Alexander Jacobson says bringing Google to Greensboro would solve slow internet connection speeds at his school.
"I can personally say that the internet speeds at the school are pretty slow and I think that would be a great thing if we can attract that to our city and speed up our internet. Because if that could happen teachers might be more likely to use internet resources to teach their classes." Jacobson said.
Google has left applicant cities with many questions. The City of Greensboro doesn't know how much Google would spend or how many jobs the project would create, and they're unsure if Google would use existing fiber optics or build new ones. And while potential customers don't know how much they would pay to use the new service, many agreed bringing Google to Greensboro would be good for business.
"We've done a lot of heavy lifting in establishing a logistics shipping around the airport, and that's all well and good, but the kind of industry this high speed internet could span will be a wonderful diversification, crating different kinds of jobs." one community member said at the forum.
City leaders know they are going to have to be creative in trying to lure Google to Greensboro. The deadline to apply is March 26.
