Dear John,

Thanks for writing about Google’s recent announcement of its intention to build out 1Gbps fiber broadband in select US markets. We were intrigued immediately upon hearing the announcement, and we intend to respond to Google’s request for information with our best case for Seattle as a location for what could be the world’s fastest network.

We can’t just hope Google builds it for us, and they aren’t offering a full citywide network, which is why we have a team hard at work to develop up-to-date plans for a municipal fiber network with connections to every home and business in the city. It is still early in our process, but we are taking this issue very seriously.

American economic history is punctuated by infrastructural revolutions like those that brought canals, railroads, highways, and airports. Places that embrace next-generation infrastructure early on become centers of the industries such infrastructure begets, and the same will be true for broadband. We want to make sure that Seattle is competitive in a 21st century economy and that its residents have equitable access to a vital communications and business network.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

Elliott Day
Policy Analyst
Office of the Mayor
(206) 684-4000