Topeka aims to become Google Internet test site
 

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Topeka aims to become Google Internet test site

TOPEKA | A campaign to make Topeka a test site for ultrafast Internet access is gathering speed.

Google announced plans Feb. 10 to build and test new high-speed broadband networks in one or more places around the country. The company says the system of fiber-optic cables would deliver Internet connections 100 times faster than most systems now available.

Over the past week, Topeka city officials have announced they're completing Google's request for information from potential trial communities. The City Council has indicated that it's behind the effort.

And a group called "Think Big Topeka" is campaigning to build community and government support.

Google has given communities a March 26 deadline to submit the completed requests for information.

Mark Biswell, information technology director for the city, said the application is "very long" and asks for various facts about the city, including its demographics.

Members of Think Big Topeka believe the city and the fiber-optic trial would be a good fit.

Jason Starkey, who is spearheading the effort, said bringing the network to Topeka would attract business, improve quality of life, and boost health care systems, schools and government agencies.

"This type of technology has the power to put Topeka on the global map," he said.

Think Big Topeka was formed Feb. 11 and gained more than 6,000 members on Facebook in less than two weeks. The group also operates a Web site at http://thinkbigtopeka.com.

The group is trying to build interest among other local organizations.

Dozens of members showed up last week at a Heartland Visioning community meeting on downtown revitalization and handed out 300 T-shirts with the slogan, "Think Big Topeka."

"We want to see a change in Topeka," said Kasey Clark, a member of the Think Big Topeka group who was handing out the shirts. "We saw this as a way to do that. It's not just one person doing this, it is the community as a whole."

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That's cute.

I think this would be great. I would love to have fiber to my home.

you and everyone in america.

I'm already on board. This would be awesome. They said Topeka is just the right size for Google's plans. Google doesn't want any large metropolis, apparently. Man, I hope this happens.

Think Big Topeka!! You could become the next Wichita or something.....

I see Google announcing that Topeka will become a test site, and then our politicians completely ****ing it up somehow, which will result in Google pulling out.

The odds on this are very high. Our pols are worthless. :doh!:

That is a scary thought because I could actually see that happening. Stupid city politicians. :cuss:

John Alcala will probably email them from a Yahoo account or something.

Whole bunch of them meths making stuffs can be got off them fastester intarwebs.

IT will never happen. Trust me. This city can't do anything right.

This may be the most accurate statement ever typed on the intarwebs.

I filled out all the forms and submitted Leawood for consideration

ROFL