Why Do You Want Fiber?

So far, Sheldon, Ward, Crystal and David have told us why they want open-access, community fiber. We’ll be posting more videos, soon, but right now, tell us why you want fiber.

I want fiber, in part, because I don’t have Cable or Satellite TV, I don’t have a DVR and I don’t subscribe to Netflix. If I’m not home to watch something when it’s broadcast, I use the Internet to watch it (legally). Sometimes this works great, and other times it’s slow and unreliable. Sometimes (like with the Olympics) I couldn’t even get the broadcast, because I was not on an approved ISP.

I see open-access fiber as a way of leveling the playing field, so that content creators can provide their content directly to consumers. This will improve the experience for consumers, and also open up the door to new content creators who can take advantage of dealing directly with their audience.

Why do you want fiber?

9 thoughts on “Why Do You Want Fiber?

  1. People need freedom-respecting, scarcity-squashing communications infrastructure. It will power innovation, productivity, creativity and participation. We can afford it, but not if freedom-hating, scarcity-lovers have control. Get behind open-access fiber in your community today. Let people know how important it is for our future.

  2. Please attend Beer And Blog at the Green Dragon – SE 9th & Yamhill – Fri 3/12 (tomorrow) at 4:00 to act on PDX fiber. Then join us right after at the Hobnob Grill – SE 34th & Morrison – at 5:30 to organize and learn about the huge PR event in the works.
    We NEED your warm body and your word-of-mouth…that’s it! No money, no pain, just action! It will be fun, and will likely result in a viral video (no, it’s not a flash-mob…it’s WAY better). No dancing involved, unless you want to!

  3. I created a smart playlist with a program called Embedr.

    Here is the URL:
    http://embedr.com/playlist/portland-wants-google-fiber-please-vote-for-pdx

    Help Portland by embedding this playlist on your web or social media site!
    Embed code:
    Build your own custom video playlist at embedr.com

    Go to the URL if you want to create an embed of a different size.

    These videos will play through and start over from the begginning. This might be useful if you have a spare PC to show in a public. Perfect for a computer shop!

    If someone knows an app that builds smart playlist better than Embedr, I’d love to hear about it!

  4. Al Franken has a new 01:41 video promoting Twin Ports, MN (Duluth/Superior) for Google fiber: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2i_piWVXuc&

    Surely the creatives in Portland can come up with something to top this!

    Al Franken Mines ‘SNL’ Past In Bid For Google Fiber (VIDEO)
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/13/al-franken-google-fiber-duluth_n_498045.html

    “Drawing on footage from his decades in comedy, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has joined the politicians bidding for their constituencies to test Google’s high-speed broadband fiber networks.

    Franken jokingly credited Google’s search engine as the reason he was able to run for the Senate instead of continuing to serve as “The Duluth Answer Man,” a character he played on “Saturday Night Live.”

    Franken didn’t go quite as far as the mayors of Topeka, Kansas or Sarasota, Florida — who temporarily changed their cities’ names to “Google” and “Google Island,” respectively — but he’s the biggest name so far to publicly angle for the search giant’s Web development project. Other politicians, like Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), are vying for the company’s investment behind the scenes.

    WATCH Franken’s pitch.”

  5. Get your video on! Al Franken has just made a 01:41 video to promote Twin Ports, MN (Duluth/Superior) for Google’s ultra broadband initiative. Surely Portland’s creatives can top this!

    Watch Franken’s pitch here.

    From Huffington Post
    March 13, 2010
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/13/al-franken-google-fiber-duluth_n_498045.html

    Al Franken Mines Comedy Past in Bid for Google Fiber (video)

    Drawing on footage from his decades in comedy, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has joined the politicians bidding for their constituencies to test Google’s high-speed broadband fiber networks.

    Franken jokingly credited Google’s search engine as the reason he was able to run for the Senate instead of continuing to serve as “The Duluth Answer Man,” a character he played in TV spots promoting the city in the 1980s (not “SNL” skits, as previously reported).

    Franken didn’t go quite as far as the mayors of Topeka, Kansas or Sarasota, Florida — who temporarily changed their cities’ names to “Google” and “Google Island,” respectively — but he’s the biggest name so far to publicly angle for the search giant’s Web development project. Other politicians, like Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), are vying for the company’s investment behind the scenes.

  6. I created a “Bag” with as many resources as I could find relating to the PDX Fiber efforts. You can find it at: http://bagtheweb.com/b/iz6kxt Here is short version for tweeting: http://bit.ly/bsqoH4

    Let me know if I missed anything! Happy to add more relevant links. If you have a specific area of interest, you should create your own Bag and I’ll link to it! A few possible: What is fiber optic, energy potential, what is open access, net neutrality, how fast is 1GB, possible uses by biz, gov and non-profits… try it out, the bags are easy to create.

  7. Here is a link for a “Bag” I made of all the resources I could find related to the effort to get Google Fiber in Portland.

    Full URL: http://bagtheweb.com/b/iz6kxt

    Short URL: http://bit.ly/bsqoH4

    I added everything I could find. Let me know if you have more links to add. Better yet, create your own bag, it’s pretty easy. I’ll link it to this main Bag.

    If you have a specific field of interest that is relevant to Google Fiber, your expertise could be very useful! A few possible suggestions: What is fiber optic?, How fast will it be and what can you do with it, photonic & other energy tie-ins, Bloom Boxes or whatever turns you on…

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