Google Fiber

[bchris02]

I've heard Comcast and Time Warner are the two worst providers, with Comcast in a commanding lead.

Having used both, I can say with confidence that Time Warner is the worst. Their speeds are very slow compared to the average for cable Internet and you are locked into using their modem/router which is garbage. With Cox, you at least have an option. I still prefer TWC to any DSL however.

[Uptowner]

Don't forget about the bottlenecking and peak hour restrictions they've been caught sneaking in. Now it's standard practice. At some point they just about flat out went to war against cable cutters. Making it nearly impossible to stream from any source but their own on demand services. DataCom can be a despicable business.

[Plutonic Panda]

Bits and Bytes: Google Fiber might come to Oklahoma City, not Tulsa - Tulsa World: Bitsbytes

[hoya]

Bits and Bytes: Google Fiber might come to Oklahoma City, not Tulsa - Tulsa World: Bitsbytes

That's some jealousy right there.

[SoonerDave]

That's some jealousy right there.

Some, yes, but the one valid point to take away from that article not just for the OKC/Tulsa issue is the fact that gigabit service isn't going to be so rare by the time Google gets done digging trenches and laying fiber. When KC was among the first cities to get it about four years ago (?), yeah, gigabit was a *huge* deal, and it was still a thing for the backbone or outer loop. Technology is moving so fast that gigabit speeds, while still rare generally, are not nearly as rarified now as they were then, and surely won't be in two or three years when and if this Google offering comes to fruition.

There's little doubt, however, that Google deserves a great deal of the credit in pushing the envelope. ATT/Cox are fatcats around here and have no reason to provide better service at a lower price except to the extent they compete with each other, but if a third party comes in because *they* see the same situation (and not in an overnight situation, either - they've seen this coming for a while), it changes the whole ballgame. Gotta love competition.

And I wouldn't be the least (giga)bit surprised (har har) if some interesting negotiations follow between OKC and Cox regarding its franchise agreement that I am reasonably sure comes up for renewal next year. I somehow doubt it will be the simple, rubber stamp issue it seems to have been in years past. Cox will probably come to the table a bit petulant with OKC slathering over Google, and OKC will be willing to tell Cox is can see a tech future without the words "Cox" in the mailbox every month. Very interesting indeed.

[Pete]

There may be more gigabit but 1) Google will make it much more ubiquitous; and 2) it will likely be much cheaper.

[bchris02]

There may be more gigabit but 1) Google will make it much more ubiquitous; and 2) it will likely be much cheaper.

Yeah, very few places have affordable FTTP available to the home and small business even today. Gigabit is available but its largely in the realm of the enterprise and they pay a lot for it.

Think back to the mid 90s when most home users had AOL dial-up and broadband service was starting to roll out. T1 service cost thousands per month and was therefore only affordable to large businesses. Slowly but surely, cable and DSL providers stepped in and made comparable or faster service available for everyone at affordable prices. Google is doing that, but for the next generation.

One this kind of service is more readily available, it's going to completely change the way we use the Internet and computing in general.

[Just the facts]

AT&T GigaPower just became active at my apartment building today. Price is $100/mo. If I was home more I would sign-up for it.

[Roger S]

Ok... Everytime I see this thread it makes me wonder if Google Fiber will help to keep my internet regular. =+)

[Plutonic Panda]

Oklahoma City Snapshot: Checklist for a new network | News OK

[camrun91]

As some of you may know I work for an IT company out of Mustang, We have a data center off of Council and Reno in the old AT&T data center/Hub. It is not our personal data center but a 3rd party place that you can rent rackspace and have access to the current hub and stuff that is there. My boss told us last week that the office we have in the building may be neighbors to Google. It looks like they are possibly making this a starting point for the servers and network establishment in OKC. If they do get the space I would expect they would end up with a small staff in the office there. If this is the case they are setting themselves up for very little down time in OKC as "Rack 59" has three or four generators on site with enough diesel to power the entire place for 3 weeks without power. As well as contracts to get more diesel there quickly if need be.

[SoonerDave]

As some of you may know I work for an IT company out of Mustang, We have a data center off of Council and Reno in the old AT&T data center/Hub. It is not our personal data center but a 3rd party place that you can rent rackspace and have access to the current hub and stuff that is there. My boss told us last week that the office we have in the building may be neighbors to Google. It looks like they are possibly making this a starting point for the servers and network establishment in OKC. If they do get the space I would expect they would end up with a small staff in the office there. If this is the case they are setting themselves up for very little down time in OKC as "Rack 59" has three or four generators on site with enough diesel to power the entire place for 3 weeks without power. As well as contracts to get more diesel there quickly if need be.

I had a *lot* of family that used to work at that building when it was "Western Electric - Oklahoma City Works" under the old Bell System banner, then AT&T (back when it really was "A" "T" "and" "T", American Telephone and Telegraph), then later Lucent. I think it's one of the underappreciated assets in OKC - its a *monstrous* manufacturing facility that built old crossbar switches back in the 70's and I think the "3B"/"5E" computers ATT built back in the day. I used to get to go out there once a year when I was a kid during their "Engineering Open House" and we'd see all kinds of "advanced technology" they were working on that hadn't yet gone public.

That place is *ideal* as a data center. It's great to know this facility is being used in such a practical way and offers the opportunity to anchor some great, new, long-term technology presence in OKC. Thanks for the info!!

[Snowman]

I had a *lot* of family that used to work at that building when it was "Western Electric - Oklahoma City Works" under the old Bell System banner, then AT&T (back when it really was "A" "T" "and" "T", American Telephone and Telegraph), then later Lucent. I think it's one of the underappreciated assets in OKC - its a *monstrous* manufacturing facility that built old crossbar switches back in the 70's and I think the "3B"/"5E" computers ATT built back in the day. I used to get to go out there once a year when I was a kid during their "Engineering Open House" and we'd see all kinds of "advanced technology" they were working on that hadn't yet gone public.

That place is *ideal* as a data center. It's great to know this facility is being used in such a practical way and offers the opportunity to anchor some great, new, long-term technology presence in OKC. Thanks for the info!!

My dad worked out their for basically his entire professional career through all the name changes, I only made it out twice for the open houses. He still is a volunteer at WEOKIE Credit Union (aka Western Electric of Oklahoma Credit Union), roughly a billion dollar side effect of the place even after it's closure. For any of the issues I have had with the new AT&T, it is a bit hard for me to get too upset with the brand.

[SoonerDave]

My dad worked out their for basically his entire professional career through all the name changes, I only made it out twice for the open houses. He still is a volunteer at WEOKIE Credit Union (aka Western Electric of Oklahoma Credit Union), roughly a billion dollar side effect of the place even after it's closure. For any of the issues I have had with the new AT&T, it is a bit hard for me to get too upset with the brand.

I had, variously, an uncle, my mom, and my dad out there over the course of my youth. Lost touch with dad after he left home and my folks split up, but pretty sure he retired from there (as did my mom/uncle).

I just paid off my 15-yr Weokie mortgage last month! Weokie is a great place.

Current ATT has so little to do with "original" other than name it's not hard for me to get cranky with the current incarnation.

[Snowman]

Has anyone else noticed the Google Maps car(s) around town this week? It may be unrelated by I have seen one two different days since the announcement, in totally different parts of town. It may be unrelated but depending on how recent the decision was made to the announcement, it would make sense to use their existing assets to update the street views of plausible distribution routes parallel or near to roadways.

... Current ATT has so little to do with "original" other than name it's not hard for me to get cranky with the current incarnation.

Yea, part of why I do not feel an obligation to give preference to them on buying services, I will not even go into there lobbying on all things internet over the last decade or more. Had my dad been a few years younger I might have have different feelings due to the way the closing was handled for the people who where too young to retire from there.

[Jeepnokc]

I just paid off my 15-yr Weokie mortgage last month! Weokie is a great place.

Congrats on paying off your mortgage!

[SoonerDave]

Congrats on paying off your mortgage!

Thanks!! Great feeling. It was a birthday present to myself. Got it done about 2-1/2 years ahead of schedule

[FighttheGoodFight]

On KGOU today they talked about Google Fiber working with the city to look at infrastructure. The report went on to say that Cox and ATT hope they will receive an equal playing ground to expand their fiber networks. I SPIT OUT MY COFFEE

How long have COX and ATT had to expand their networks and drive down costs? My COX service has been fine but their are many places in Oklahoma that only have one option or LTE for internet.

Mmmmm I love competition. Good for all us okies.

[SoonerDave]

On KGOU today they talked about Google Fiber working with the city to look at infrastructure. The report went on to say that Cox and ATT hope they will receive an equal playing ground to expand their fiber networks. I SPIT OUT MY COFFEE

How long have COX and ATT had to expand their networks and drive down costs? My COX service has been fine but their are many places in Oklahoma that only have one option or LTE for internet.

Mmmmm I love competition. Good for all us okies.

Let me GET a fresh cup of coffee SO I CAN SPIT IT OUT, TOO!!!?!?!? Then THROW THE CUP ACROSS THE ROOM.

Omigosh, Cox has had a virtually FREE TICKET in OKC for close to, what is it not, thirty, THIRTY YEARS? They've eroded some of their base to the Evil Empire, AT&T, and even THEY are sounding like the aggrieved soul?

They've got nothing if not chutzpah. I'll give 'em that.

[FighttheGoodFight]

Let me GET a fresh cup of coffee SO I CAN SPIT IT OUT, TOO!!!?!?!? Then THROW THE CUP ACROSS THE ROOM.

Omigosh, Cox has had a virtually FREE TICKET in OKC for close to, what is it not, thirty, THIRTY YEARS? They've eroded some of their base to the Evil Empire, AT&T, and even THEY are sounding like the aggrieved soul?

They've got nothing if not chutzpah. I'll give 'em that.

This is the best emoji we have here for spitting out coffee.

[HOT ROD]

Bit of a rant here but -

Comcast is DEFINITELY the worst, maybe not so much for service (as it is fairly OK here in Seattle area) but definitely for Customer (what customer) Service and pricing. Absolutely ridiculous crap they sell here; every package has a ridiculous amount of channels which you WILL NOT USE. No offense, but EVERY and I mean EVERY package has 1/3 of its channels in Spanish and Comcast STILL OFFERS additional LATINO specific packages which cost extra. So, if I just want the normal package, I have to put up with 1/3 to 2/3 of channels I definitely will not use (sorry, we're Asian American) and there isn't a comparable free or priced option for say, Chinese or Korean (both of whom have very significant populations multitudes over anywhere south of the border). I don't get it ONE BIT, which is why we ONLY get Comcast Internet.

I got SICK and tired of paying north of $200 for a Preferred + TV package (HD extra, DVR extra) with a so called any room DVR service (which by the way, is extra) known as X1 and any additional outlet is extra and the HD technology fee and telephone service fee is extra. You don't even get a free set to enjoy your HD package that you paid for in the Preferred + yet you get 50 free channels from latino nations that should be part of their paid package or at least offer more than the two Chinese channels; one is a multi-cultural channel from Washington DC the other piped in from LA. HORRIBLE, I thought Seattle had a reputation as a so-called Pacific Rim city. .. Not according to Comcast, we're deep in the heart of Texas/Oklahoma as I'd expect to see this programming on Cox OKC (and would be fine with it).

Let me say, I have nothing wrong against other people. I just feel that Comcast totally is missing thIS market (Seattle area) whose minority population (what little it is, btw) is dominated by Asians and Asian Americans. There should be 'free' channels included in 'normal' packages for the top minorities we have: Vietnamese, Chinese (Cantonese then Taiwanese), and then Korean. We do have the Korean channel KBS and our piped in Chinese channel from LA is Taiwanese, but have to pay for the China package and it's selection is hiddeous. Do they not know that there are thousands of channels available from Mainland China alone, not to mention plenty from Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Philippines, - all countries with fairly significant populations in this area - Instead, they force all of these channels from Mexico or translated into Spanish on us, Seattle has less than 5% hispanic population; who watches that???

- End Rant

Be thankful for what you have with Cox. Also be thankful OKC has some terrestrial choices in AT&T FIOS, Verizon (dont you guys?), and upcoming with Google. Here, it's Comcast or else, and Comcast knows it (hence the HORRIFIC customer 'service').

[HOT ROD]

Bits and Bytes: Google Fiber might come to Oklahoma City, not Tulsa - Tulsa World: Bitsbytes

why do Tulsan's keep thinking they are of similar size to OKC? Can't read any story on OKC without Tulsa people saying the first couple of sentences like in this article to 'justify' their feud against OKC. ... The article is so pessimistic in the beginning, totally downplaying OKC's announcement and even suggesting the city will NOT get the service once geography and infrastructure is considered (while this MAY be true, the writer comes off totally butt hurt that Tulsa with its natural glory wasn't arbitrarily selected when OKC put for the recruiting effort).

TRUTH (or more close to it than THEY like to admit)

barely 400,000 vs. 620,000. OKC is 55% bigger city.
960,000 vs 1.34 million. OKC is 40% bigger metro area. Even the meaningless CSA is 25% bigger.

And these gaps are widening each year (esp city). .. How is Tulsa a similar size to OKC?

Truth is, Google is looking at OKC because OKC leadership took initiative years ago and contacted them. OKC also got significant boost from its economic performance, which prompted Google to give OKC a serious look.

[loveOKC]

On KGOU today they talked about Google Fiber working with the city to look at infrastructure. The report went on to say that Cox and ATT hope they will receive an equal playing ground to expand their fiber networks. I SPIT OUT MY COFFEE

How long have COX and ATT had to expand their networks and drive down costs? My COX service has been fine but their are many places in Oklahoma that only have one option or LTE for internet.

Mmmmm I love competition. Good for all us okies.

I don't understand the complexities of right of way, and all the other regulations imposed on AT&T and Cox, but you can rest assured that OKC will bend over backwards for Google, for example, build the fiber network for Google and lease it to them like other cities have done. I'm sure all Cox and AT&T want is similar consideration.

But as said above, this whole Google announcement is great for competition!!!

[Urbanized]

Of course we'll bend over backwards for Google Fiber...we've been bending over for Cox Internet for years!

[Thomas Vu]

Be thankful for what you have with Cox. Also be thankful OKC has some terrestrial choices in AT&T FIOS, Verizon (dont you guys?), and upcoming with Google. Here, it's Comcast or else, and Comcast knows it (hence the HORRIFIC customer 'service').

I'm not sure whether or not we have Verizon. As far as I know, we don't. Hate AT&T, haven't had any bad experiences with Cox.