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No word on Google Fiber as year draws to a close

Avondale Estates Decatur Metro ATL

No word on Google Fiber as year draws to a close

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A map from https://fiber.google.com/newcities/ that shows cities the internet search giant Google wants to provide with its Google Fiber service.

A map from https://fiber.google.com/newcities/ that shows cities the internet search giant Google wants to provide with its Google Fiber service.

So that Google Fiber thing? Is that happening?

Google Fiber is expected to announce by the end of the year whether it will begin offering its fiber optic internet service in the Atlanta market. Monday is Dec. 1. So, you know, you gonna hook it up or what, Google?

The company isn’t saying much.

A Google spokesperson told Decaturish, “Atlanta is still making good progress. We hope to have an update on expansion closer to the end of the year, but I don’t have any additional news right now.”

In February, the internet search giant named Decatur, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, College Park, East Point, Hapeville, Sandy Springs and Smyrna as possible recipients of its high-speed internet service.

The cities all submitted their “fiber-ready” checklists to the company by May 1. The cities have continued talking with Google since then, which has been interpreted as a good sign the company is interested. But still, nothing official yet.

Decatur didn’t respond to a question about the status of its talks with the company. Avondale Estates City Manager Clai Brown said, “The City continues to be in communication with Google about the potential expansion of their fiber network. As far as a decision timeline, Google plans to provide an update by the end of 2014. For now, the City is working with them to answer clarifying questions about existing processes for things like permitting and communications. I am hopeful a decision and announcement will be coming very soon.”

According to a press release from the company, average American broadband speed is 9.8 megabits per second. Google Fiber could bring Avondale Estates and Decatur residents access to “Gigabit” Internet connections up to 1,000 Megabits per second, the press release said.

Recently, Google unveiled its pricing plans for the Austin market.

Gigabit internet would cost $70 per month. Basic internet, at current speeds, would be available for a one-time $300 construction fee or $25 a month for 12 months. Gigabit Internet + TV would run Austin residents $130 per month.

Google’s main rival in the high speed internet battle, AT&T, has sent out some mixed signals lately about whether it intends to compete with Google’s service in other markets. Last month, AT&T announced plans to bring its GigaPower network in Decatur, in addition to Atlanta, Newnan and Sandy Springs. Then reports circulated that AT&T might be getting squishy about the idea, citing President Barack Obama’s call to regulate broadband like other public utilities, according to the Raleigh, N.C. -based News & Observer.

The News and Observer reported on Friday that AT&T is still on board with the expansion of its broadband service.

“AT&T still plans to complete the major initiative we announced in April to expand our ultra-fast GigaPower fiber network to 25 major metropolitan areas nationwide, including 21 new major metropolitan areas,” the company wrote in the letter dated Nov. 25, according to the News & Observer. To read the full story, click here.

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