Things on My Mind: Google Fiber Information Meeting

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Google Fiber Information Meeting

I just got back from attending a Google Fiber Information Meeting. The meeting was held at Santa Fe Place, Monterey Club. In attendance were representatives from each of the HOAs managed by Curry (the ones in Fiberhoods). Of our board members, I'm the most technically inclined thus I got to attend the meeting.

The representatives reiterated the 3 fiber internet/TV offers, the supplies attached to each offer and the two agreement options (these were emailed to board members a month ago). They did give a fantastic analogy for how fast G.F. is to dial-up. It would be like if Dial-up and G.F. was driving a car. G.F. could make it to New York, NY before Dial-up reached Independence, MO. Now you know.

It didn't take long for folks to start asking questions. I'm pretty sure everyone knew the 3 packages, something about the supplies and they may have skimmed the email about the agreement options. Now, installation is where the real questions came from. Examples of questions:

'Will you need to pull out the coax line?'

'Can I have fiber on the coax wire I have?'

'My Time Warner Wi-Fi doesn't reach very far. Will the Google Fiber Wi-Fi go to my living room?'

'We have new construction on The Plaza. How will the instillation work?' (Google rep says they can add the lines as the walls go up. Fair answer.) 'No, our building is already built. It's 5 years old.'

'Will you have to take up my tile?'

I normally don't like making fun of people behind their backs, but these were just too funny. I'm sure these adults are brilliant at their respective careers (I assume because they all earn more money than I do). They aren't stupid people, just ignorant on the subject of fiber. At least they are attending meetings like this to learn more about fiber.

So, I didn't learning anything new, but I did get free wine, free fancy water and a T-Shirt. Not a total loss. There was food, but I had already eaten at Oklahoma Joe's earlier (I'm so Kansas City!). Check out my boring photos below.