When Google announced its “Google Fiber for Communities” experiment last week, and HarvardDSL (Harvard’s local connectivity discussion group) started buzzing, it quickly became clear that organization would be needed to channel energy and enthusiasm into a working plan.
Within a few days of Google’s announcement, we had set up a forum on the Harvard Press website, www.harvardpress.com (About Harvard, Harvard Forums, Google Fiber) and sent e-mails to more than 1,100 registered users (and the 100+ members of HarvardDSL), inviting all to the General Store for a meeting to kick off Harvard’s response to Google, proposing that the town become one of the experimental locations for the Google Fiber network. Tuesday afternoon, 20 people discussed and questioned the opportunity, and began formulating an approach.
One of the first issues was scope―should the proposal be Harvard only, or regional, including other towns? Consensus quickly emerged that a regional approach would be more compelling, with possibilities including the Devens-connected towns of Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley (plus Devens). Other possibilities mentioned were Littleton and Boxborough.
As the group reviewed the response categories, it became clear that much of the response requires detailed facts, while other parts amount to “telling a story”―what is it about Harvard and the region that would make it a great candidate. History points mentioned included Transcendentalists and Shakers, as well as regional history embodied by Freedom’s Way. Harvard’s significance in the evolution of technology, e.g. as a bedroom community for Digital Equipment and other high-tech pioneers, was cited. Although no specific assignments were made, work is under way to draft segments of the story.
Besides describing the area’s history of innovation, the response needs to discuss how the new resource might be used. Google says the company wants to see what developers and users can do with ultra-high-speed connectivity, and we should try to brainstorm possibilities.
The facts needed are extensive, but should mostly be a matter of record; the trick will be finding out who has the answers, and compiling them. Required facts include demographics―population, land area, median income, number of housing units, number of multi-family homes, number of apartment complexes, number of gated communities, number of households with access to broadband Internet service, percentage of households currently subscribing to broadband Internet services, terrain and climate. Google also requires information about construction possibilities―utilities (electric, gas, water, sewer, cable, phone); ownership of utility poles; number of poles; cost and procedure for attachments, permitting and licensing. Within these facts, Google wants to know how easy (or difficult) it will be to move from plan to execution; they want the fastest and easiest process possible.
We’ll hold another meeting at the General Store Saturday, Feb. 20, at 9:30 a.m., to give others a chance to join the effort, and to update each other on ideas and developments. E-mails will again be sent to registered users of harvardpress.com and HarvardDSL, to make sure everyone knows about the communication and collaboration structures that have been set up, and to welcome participation. The Google Fiber forum is open to everyone to read, and is open to all registered users to participate (must be logged in to contribute). Anyone not already registered can do so by sending an e-mail to googfiber@harvardpress.com, indicating areas of specific interest. The message will be posted to the forum, and an account will be created. A return e-mail will provide user name and password for logging in.
We must move quickly. Deadline for proposals is March 26, and it will take much time and effort to put our best foot forward. It’s a long shot, but for the community(ies) chosen, the possibilities are incredible. Let’s go Harvard!
Worth Robbins is one of the owners of the Harvard Press.