Gotta get a gigabit

HICKORY

Google wants ideas, and a Hickory-Lenoir coalition wants to make sure those ideas come fast and often.

About 100 people gathered Tuesday night for an informal meeting at Hickory City Hall.

The group was urged to support the coalition's effort to land a Google high-speed data streaming test system.

Google has asked communities nationwide to apply for the test in which a gigabit-per-second network would be installed for residential and business hookups.

"Gotta get a gigabit" is the motto of the coalition calling itself Team Woogle. That's "Woo + Google."

Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright told the crowd that in spite of the colorful venture designed to secure public support and attract Google's attention, "This is a serious undertaking. There is something for everyone; unlimited opportunities for families and business."

Officials stressed Hickory and Lenoir's unique position to land the Google test.

There are 19 communities in the United States with Google facilities. Three of them meet the company's population requirements.

One is a center for manufacture of fiber optic cable that can enhance the Google experiment: the Hickory-Lenoir data corridor.

"We have to let Google know how badly we want this," said Lenoir Mayor David Barlow. "It will revolutionize our community."

Virtually all the municipalities in Caldwell and Catawba counties back the project. The county governments are also on board.

Staff from Hickory and Lenoir said Google wants the public, private and commercial, to not only offer ideas on how the high-speed network could be used now, but in the future.

Several in the crowd agreed that the test is a tool by Google to best the competition and brainstorm out-of-the-box concepts.

The deal was likened to Microsoft Corporation's approach to developing Windows 7, in which users were asked to suggest assets for the new computer-operating system.

The need for "killer apps" suggestions was repeated often at city hall.

Google does not intend to become an Internet service provider, but develop the structure.

Communities awarded the test would still connect through existing ISP's, but for the same price as current service.

In response to a question, Wright assured the group that Google is not looking for money.

"They're interested in the structure and ideas," he said.

Terri Byers, educator with the Hickory Fire Department, said the superfast service would enhance safety and emergency response.

Commenting before the meeting, she said, "We could give firefighters buildings and layouts (on mobile computers) while they're on the way to a fire scene."

It's a capability the department doesn't have. Firefighters have printed lists of what buildings contain, but the data transfer rate would give response teams all the information on the nature of a business and its architecture before they arrive.

Communities have until March 26 to submit applications.

Another town hall meeting is Thursday in Lenoir at 7 p.m. at the council-commissioners chamber in the courthouse.

How to get involved

• Go to www.googlehickorylenoir.com. The Web site is the primary source for information about the Hickory/Lenoir Google Fiber project.

• Take the survey. It is available online and at the public libraries.

• Use YouTube. Create and submit videos and commercials supporting the initiative, and include how it would help you at home, work or school.

• Use e-mail blasts. Utilize your existing database of family, friends and acquaintances to share the message of support for the project and send people to www.googlehickorylenoir.com.

• Join Facebook Woogle Hickory Lenoir! and invite others to communicate the message "Gotta get a gigabit" and discuss the benefits of the project.

• Twitter WoogleHKYLNRKeep up with what's going on with the initiative.

Officials with the Woogle effort are utilizing responses to develop the application.