Google Fiber to support open access conduit network project in West Des Moines, IA

Google Fiber has announced its first market expansion in four years. The company revealed in a blog post that it will partner with the government of West Des Moines, IA, on construction of an open access conduit network. Google Fiber will be one services supplier that will leverage the network, but it will be available to others.

The West Des Moines town council approved a conduit license agreement with Google Fiber July 6 for the open conduit network, opening the door to begin work under a 20-year strategic plan ratified in 2016. Google Fiber will help pay the cost of deploying the conduit network through its monthly lease payments. The city will issue taxable General Obligation bonds for its funding share of the project. Network construction is expected to begin this fall and is estimated to be finished in approximately 2.5 years. All homes and business are eligible to be connected to the conduit network at no charge. The city will perform the conduit installation and building connections.

Google Fiber has begun soliciting potential customers via its website. Neither the service provider nor the city have indicated when residents can expect to see service provision begin. The conduit network must be in place before fiber can be deployed.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to work with an outstanding company like Google Fiber to help make this happen,” said Mayor Steve Gaer. “Now more than ever, reliable high-speed internet is critical. It’s amazing that in just four years, West Des Moines is well on its way to achieving the WDM 2036 Plan goal of finding an innovative way to provide access to broadband for all our residents and businesses.”

This is the second time Google Fiber will work within a municipal network structure. The company has leased fiber from a city network in Huntsville, AL, to offer services there (see “Google Fiber open for business in Huntsville, AL”). “Whether in Huntsville, in West Des Moines, or anywhere else, our goal is to work with communities to find the right model that brings world-class internet to more people and businesses, and that increases competition. We will continue to explore partnerships with other forward-thinking cities, utilities, and enterprises,” wrote David Finn, director of corporate development for Google Fiber, in the blog.

The announcement ends a fallow period in terms of new market expansion for Google Fiber, which began in 2016 when the company decided to rethink its market approach (see "Google Fiber to 'pause' expansion; CEO steps down"). In the meantime, its reputation took a hit when it backed out of a deployment in Louisville, KY, due to problems with its fiber deployment methodology (see “Google Fiber to pay Louisville $3.84 million in wake of market retreat”). “Google Fiber has learned a lot in our first 10 years — we've made some good decisions, and we've made some mistakes,” Finn mused.

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