Nine months ago, Google
And then life happened.
Google and Verizon
If Google didn't already have its hands full with investigating 1,100 applications for the fiber project, all of these events have added to the pressure on Google to get this one right. It's not good enough to pick some burg on a whim, on nepotistic grounds, or based on who bakes the best gingerbread houses, and then figure out later what to do with the whole mess. Google had better be ready to reach significant business conclusions from this test very early. The company has become a caped crusader for free-flowing bandwidth, but the public also thinks the company has a dark side. And if there's one thing Google can't afford, it's public derision.
Thus, the selection process has slipped into next year. "We’re sorry for this delay," says project leader Milo Medin, "but we want to make sure we get this right." No kidding. All eyes will be on Mountain View when Big G finally makes the announcement, and about 99.9% of the country will hate it.
Are you hoping for a deeply satisfying gulp of gigabit bandwidth, courtesy of Google? Did you forget all about the fiber project already? Either way, the comments box below is your shoulder to cry on.