HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - GOOGLE FIBER INITIATIVE (2)Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
Af FNDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
DATE: March 23, 2010
SUBJECT: GOOGLE FIBER INITIATIVE
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council direct staff to submit a Request for Information (RFI) expressing Santa Clarita's
desire to be selected as a test city for Google's ultra high-speed Internet network.
BACKGROUND
On February 10, 2010, Google announced their intentions to identify a test city to deploy their
ultra high-speed internet system through a competitive selection process. Google's project would
construct an internet system capable of delivering internet services at speeds 100 times faster
than currently available to most businesses and residents. The possibilities of innovations that
can be achieved through ultra high-speed internet are endless when compared to the limitations
of today's standards.
A team of City staff are preparing a formal response to Google's RFI providing Google with
information about our City that will help them determine where to build the state-of-the-art
Internet network. Google has indicated their main goals are to expand Internet service through
"open access" to residential homes and to work with business -oriented communities where they
can build their network quickly.
In preparing the formal response to Google, staff developed an encompassing campaign to
generate support from our City utilizing the City's website and social media such as Facebook,
Twitter, and YouTube. Staff also reached out to key local businesses, asking them to offer
testimonials describing their positive experiences working with the City and our
service -excellence philosophy. Agencies including the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber . of
Commerce, Castaic Lake Water Agency, Newhall School District, and California Institute of the
APPROVED
Arts are among the many local agencies supporting the City's efforts to bring Google to Santa
Clarita.
While Google will undoubtably receive thousands of applications, staff believes Santa Clarita's
application will distinguish our community from others in a manner that will warrant further
consideration from Google through a request on their part for additional information about our
City and qualifications. While no specific timetable has been set, Google expects to select one or
more test cities before the end of the calendar year.
If selected to participate as a test city, access to Google's ultra high-speed network would expand
the availability of internet services to our residents, create additional competition in the
marketplace, and make access to the web more affordable. A Google fiber network would also
provide significant benefit to our business community, make Santa Clarita more attractive to
companies considering to relocate, and help bring higher paying jobs to the City.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Direct staff not to submit a formal response to Google.
2. Other action as directed by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ATTACHMENTS
Google Outreach Postcard
CLWA Resolution of Support
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Get on hoard the Google ultra-high
speed broadband network initiative!
Google is launching a new experiment that
will make Internet access better and faster
than ever before. Google will pick trial
locations across the country to test
ultra-high speed broadband networks. Let's
take advantage of this unique opportunity
and show Google that Santa Clarita is a
great place to test this network.
Show your support!
1. Fill out a community nomination
form at Santa-Clarita.com/Google and
let Google know why they should use
Santa Clarita as a test site
2. Submit a twenty-second video at
Santa-Clarita.com/Google about why
you think Google should use Santa
Clarita as a testing location and how
ultra-high speed broadband would
benefit our community
3. Visit Santa-Clarita.com/Google and
become a Facebook Fan of the
project
City of
_ SANTA
�►
CLARITA
Visit Santa-Clarita.com/Google
and join the Google Fiber Initiative!
—3—
RESOLUTION NO. 2707
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE CASTAIC LAKE WATER AGENCY
SUPPORTING THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA'S
EFFORTS TO BECOME GOOGLE'S TEST SITE CITY
FOR THE'ULTRA HIGH SPEED BROADBAND NETWORK
KNOWN AS "GOGGLE FIBER"
WHEREAS, Google is planning to pick a test city to test out its ultra-high speed broadband
network called "Google Fiber"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita would like the opportunity to be chosen as the test city
and is asking for support from local Santa Clarita residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, if the City of Santa Clarita is selected as a test city, Google would install a fiber
network throughout the community providing our residents and business community with internet
connections 100 times faster than DSL and cable currently available; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita is asking residents and the business community to
support the City's efforts in becoming a Google test city by joining the City's Facebook Fan Page to
show their support.
NOW THEREFORE BE IF RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Castaic Lake
Water Agency supports the efforts of the City and authorizes the General Manager to join the City
of Santa Clarita's Facebook and adopt this resolution showing support for the City of Santa Clarita
in its efforts to be selected as a test city for Google to deploy its ultra speed b adband
network.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify I am the duly appointed and acting Secretary of the Castaic Lake
Water Agency and at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of said Agency held on
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, the foregoing Resolution No. 2707 was duly and regularly adopted by
said Board, and that said resolution has not been rescinded or amended since the date of its
adoption, and it is now in full force and effect.
DATED: March 10, 20101
A nil Jacobs
p � Secretary
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