(TNS) \u2014 This week, the Smyrna City Council approved a deal with Internet service provider Google Fiber allowing them to install their equipment in the Jonquil City.<\/p>\n
The board voted 6-0 to approve the meeting\u2019s consent agenda, which included the proposed installation deal. Councilman Glenn Pickens was absent.<\/p>\n
Mayor Derek Norton told the MDJ he believes this new deal will provide residents with another good option for the connections they need.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know that we (the city) went looking for (Google Fiber), I think it found us,\u201d Norton said. \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be good for that part of the city to have Google Fiber there.\u201dGOOGLE FIBER: BASICS AND INSTALLATION
Google Fiber is Google\u2019s private Internet service, providing products and services for customers\u2019 Internet, Wi-Fi, television and phone needs.Advertised as the \u201cmost awarded Internet\u201d provider, Google Fiber provides three tiers of high-speed Internet services. Their Core plan, the lowest plan, provides upload and download speeds up to 1 gigabit (or 1000 megabits) per second, while their Edge plan, the largest, provides speeds up to 8 gigabits (or 8,000 megabits) per second.<\/p>\n
By comparison, Xfinity\u2019s lowest plan provides Internet speeds up to 300 megabits per second, while their largest provides up to 2,000 megabits per second.<\/p>\n
But while Google Fiber\u2019s speeds are among the fastest, their availability is limited due to the complexity of installing lines. Unlike most Internet providers that install lines on utility poles, the majority of Google Fiber lines are laid underground, which requires permission from both city and private residents before crews can install lines on their property.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore we invite you to sign up for (Google Fiber), we spend a lot of time developing a construction plan for your community and working with local authorities on permitting and other issues,\u201d Google Fiber authorities wrote. \u201cOnce we\u2019ve determined that we can bring (Google Fiber) service to a particular area, there is more design and planning work to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to their website, the service is only provided in limited areas of Cobb County including Marietta, Smyrna and Kennesaw.<\/p>\n
AGREEMENT DETAILS
The new deal with Smyrna gives the company access to the city\u2019s rights-of-way \u2014 including streets, highways, sidewalks and medians \u2014 to construct, install, repair, maintain and operate the necessary equipment.<\/p>\n
According to Norton, much of Google Fiber\u2019s equipment will be installed on the south side of the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they (Google Fiber) are going to be on their way to give great service in that part of the city,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
With their newly-installed equipment, Google Fiber will provide customers both broadband Internet services and voice over Internet protocol services, the agreement states.<\/p>\n
Jennifer Bennett, community relations director for the city, said this deal is non-exclusive to Google Fiber, and that they will still have to file for the required permits before beginning any installation work.<\/p>\n
The deal comes soon after city officials in Brookhaven issued a citywide stop work order to Google Fiber in December last year after one of their crews struck a gas main near an elementary school.<\/p>\n
To avoid a similar situation happening, Bennett said the city will be closely monitoring any work conducted and will take action when necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmyrna will closely monitor (work), a permit process must be followed and if needed, stop work orders will be issued,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cAnyone looking to … dig to install utilities, it would fall under a similar process.\u201d<\/p>\n
All installation and repair costs for Google Fiber\u2019s products will be paid for by Google, according to the deal.<\/p>\n
With this new partnership, anytime Google Fiber needs to access any of the city\u2019s rights-of-way, they will pay Smyrna a franchise fee to compensate for their use of the public right-of-way. The fee, according to the agreement, will be equal to 2% of the gross revenue for using the right-of-way.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benefit is that, where (Google Fiber) does go in, it\u2019s another (Internet) option,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n