Weekly Status Report - 4/1/2010

MEMORANDUM

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report

DATE: April 1, 2010

Status Report

1.  Google Broadband Project

In January, Google announced plans to build an experimental ultra high-speed broadband network in a city (or a few cities) of at least 50,000 to potentially up to 500,000 residents.  Communities interested in competing for the project were asked to fill out a request for information by 5:00 p.m. on March 26, 2010. 

In early March, City staff participated in a conference call with representatives from Google and members of NATOA (National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors) to gather information on the specific criteria Google was looking for and to determine if the City would qualify for participation.  From the two-hour conversation with Google, it appeared that Bowie was not a good candidate.  Bowie, unlike most cities across the country, already had fiber to every home as a result of the Verizon FiOS build-out.  Additionally, Google expressed particular interest in cities where they could construct their network with minimal restrictions and where the infrastructure (including utilities) was either owned or controlled by the jurisdiction.

Despite the fact that Bowie does not appear to meet all of the criteria outlined for the partnership with Google, the City’s Information Technology Committee suggested that we submit an application in the hopes that our proximity to Washington, DC and the FCC, coupled with our demographics, will create enough interest for Google to consider us.  Staff and the Committee worked last week on preparing the request for information and we submitted the application prior to the 5:00 p.m. deadline.

2.  Electronic Speed Signs

These signs have been moved to the following locations:  Whispering Leaves Lane (Longleaf); Nottinghill Drive (Northview); and Dunwood Valley Drive (Woodmore Highlands).