Topic: Google Fiber

A Google Classroom outage disrupts schools across the U.S., highlighting the risks of relying on cloud-based education tools. In British Columbia, a severed fiber optic line causes a "cash emergency" as ATMs and payment systems fail. The hosts use these events to advocate for an "Off The Grid" (OTG) lifestyle and emergency preparedness.

The discussion shifts to how modern microservices and address databases fail to recognize new construction, preventing residents from obtaining credit cards or high-speed internet. One host expresses frustration with Spectrum's high costs and the inability to sign up for Google Fiber due to database errors. They also discuss the "slow move" process and the difficulty of purging collectibles and challenge coins sent by listeners.

Dane Jasper speculates that Google Fiber slowed its expansion due to the high cost and difficulty of physical construction. He reveals that underground construction in San Francisco can cost nearly $500 per foot, leading Sonic to favor aerial deployment. Jasper explains the regulatory process of renting space on utility poles within public easements, which costs Sonic approximately $7 per pole annually.

A host describes the surprise installation of Google Fiber in an Austin apartment despite previous claims from the company that the building was not serviceable. The transition from Spectrum to AT&T U-verse is detailed, highlighting hardwired speeds of 980 Mbps and the efficiency of the U-verse channel-switching speed. The segment concludes with praise for the AT&T universal remote and the decision to record upcoming cancellation calls with Spectrum for training purposes.

A host recounts a frustrating experience trying to set up Google Fiber at a new Austin apartment. Despite visiting a physical "Fiber Store" and interacting with "Googlers," the process was stalled by database errors and address verification issues, leading to speculation that Google is scaling back its fiber business.

Attempts to sign up for Google Fiber were thwarted by a broken payment system that failed to recognize a new credit card following a fraud alert. Google's customer service was criticized for being unhelpful and potentially automated, suggesting that even major tech companies struggle with basic billing infrastructure. The host noted the irony of a Silicon Valley giant being unable to process a simple transaction for its own high-speed internet service.

During the first game of the World Series, Fox Sports suffered a major technical failure that took the broadcast off the air. Google Fiber, the provider in Kansas City, also apologized for outages, leading the hosts to suspect that Fox's reliance on internet-based infrastructure rather than traditional satellite backups caused the embarrassment.

President Obama visited Cedar Falls, Iowa, to promote faster broadband and municipal internet as a competitive advantage for U.S. cities. He compared U.S. speeds unfavorably to cities like Seoul and Tokyo, using an iPad to show a bar graph of download speeds. The hosts criticize the initiative as a push for government-regulated internet and note that Austin, Texas, which has very fast speeds, was omitted from the president's comparison.

The FCC's upcoming February vote on net neutrality is analyzed, with a focus on the debate between Title II regulation and a proposed "Title X" by Republicans in Congress. The potential for the government to regulate "unlawful network traffic" is identified as a threat to peer-to-peer services. Additionally, Google's aggressive marketing for its fiber-optic internet service in Austin, Texas, is described.

A donation from Bettendorf, Iowa, prompts a discussion about the town's history and its municipal gigabit Ethernet. Dvorak recalls an April Fool's column he wrote about Sioux City changing its name to Gateway City. The hosts also discuss the privacy implications of "free" Google Fiber in Austin and acknowledge a photo submission from a listener's wife.

A local activist known for anti-fluoride protests is reportedly running for Mayor of Austin. The hosts also note the increased activity of AT&T technicians installing fiber lines in the city as the company attempts to compete with the upcoming Google Fiber rollout.

The discussion shifts to the lack of ISP competition in the U.S. due to municipal "kickbacks" and high costs of pole rentals. Adam Curry points to Austin, Texas, as a rare example of a competitive market with Google Fiber, AT&T, and Time Warner. He warns that treating broadband as a utility would end such private competition and lead to government-controlled "content blocking" similar to the UK.

"Curry's Law" is introduced: "The more technology is centralized, the more it enslaves us." This is contrasted with "Dvorak's Law" regarding hookers in a depression. The centralization of the internet through platforms like Facebook and Google is criticized, specifically noting that Google Fiber prohibits users from running their own servers, further stripping away the original decentralized nature of the internet.

Google Fiber's expansion into Austin, Texas, is viewed as a political move tied to mayoral elections rather than a pure infrastructure play. While the city anticipates a tech boom, local experts warn that venture capital remains concentrated in Silicon Valley, with firms rarely investing outside of "Fisker range." Concerns are raised that the fiber rollout will primarily benefit real estate speculators and high-priced "incubator" spaces.

Google is reportedly confirmed to bring gigabit fiber internet service to Austin, Texas, competing with established providers like Time Warner. The service is expected to cost approximately $70 per month for internet or $120 for a bundle including television and a tablet. Concerns are raised regarding the level of data control Google maintains over its subscribers through these infrastructure projects.

A segment of the TV show "Criminal Minds" is deconstructed for its numerous technical inaccuracies regarding fiber optics, DSL, and ISP procedures. The episode concludes with a quote from Google CEO Eric Schmidt describing the internet as a "large experiment in anarchy," which the hosts frame as ironic given Google's corporate nature.