Well, after hearing only a simple acknowledgement of Sunriver’s March response to the Google Fiber for Communities RFI, the world finally got some more information from Google with an update on the project.
Google created a website, which has a nice YouTube video with Google thanking the over 1100 communities which responded to the RFI. Plus it includes lots of information and links for how communities can help move themselves closer to community-wide broadband.
One thing Google suggests, is installing conduit when doing the normal course of road construction and repair in a community or region. The primary cost of installing fiber is driven by the cost of digging up the streets – so why not install conduit while you are already doing the digging? Interesting advice!
It turns out this is great timing for Sunriver. Last summer, the Sunriver Owners Association ownership voted over 82% in favor of increasing our monthly dues in order to pay for regular ongoing maintenance and upgrading of our 65 miles of roads and 34 miles of paved pathways. The plan calls for complete repaving of each every 8 years. Crews have been busy this spring getting ready for the summer visitor peaks.
Google is not saying much beyond what they said earlier – they intend to announce the communities they will be working with by the end of this year. Sunriver is still very interested in working with Google, and we have not been sitting still since March. More on that soon in the next update.
Sunriver Google Fiber RFI Response 