Google Holler?

Cities in hot pursuit of high-speed Internet project

By: Larry Clark | Hickory Daily Record
Published: March 05, 2010

HICKORY

Hickory and Lenoir are so google-eyed over the prospect of landing a high-speed Internet project, they have temporarily changed their names.

Officials in the two cities are calling the area "Google Holler" while they and a group of other municipalities apply for the experimental network.

Google will build digital networks in selected cities to use as test sites for high-speed data transfer applications.

Winning locations will have homes and businesses connected to a system capable of delivering gigabit-per-second speeds.

Hickory, Lenoir, Newton and Sawmills city councils adopted resolutions of support for the Google Fiber to the Home and Business initiative.

Other towns are backing the effort.

Area leaders say getting the test project will be an economic recruiting tool and a boon to businesses and residents.

Cities and metro areas throughout the United States can apply for the project.

Thus, local officials have developed an initiative of their own.

Hickory and Lenoir have scheduled town hall meetings next week to discuss why Google Holler is a fitting name for the area.

"Come to one or both of the meetings, and spread the word, the more the merrier, and we'll have a googlie good time," said Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright.

"During the town hall meetings we will give an update on the Hickory Lenoir Google initiative, and we want to hear from citizens and business and community leaders how a connection — more than 100 times faster than the current connection — will help you and help the entire community."

The Hickory meeting is Tuesday at 7 p.m. at city hall.
The Lenoir meeting is Thursday at 7 p.m. in the joint city/county chambers, 905 West Ave.

"We need to look at all angles, how will this super-fast network assist our medical and manufacturing communities, small businesses, governments, designers, architects, students, educators and more," Wright said.

Hickory is soliciting input from residents on the project, asking people to help with the application process.

A news release stated, "The community would see significant economic growth, as it will open doors and be an attraction for local business to stay, and recruit more industries, creating more opportunity for all citizens and local governments."

The news item was sent from "Google Holler."

For more, go to www.googlehickorylenoir.com.