Phoenix taking steps to win over Google

PHOENIX — On Wednesday, city council members will be asked to move forward with some of the infrastructure needs for Google’s fiber optic network.

Part of the proposal includes providing ‘network huts’ on city-owned property. These ‘huts’ would house equipment for Google Fiber, a service the company says offers Internet speeds up to 100 times faster than basic broadband connections.

According to a city council report, Google estimates it will need 30-40 hut sites on city-owned property. The proposal calls for Google to pay all costs of construction, utilities and maintenance, along with an annual fee, starting at $2.75 per square foot.

Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe are among nine metro areas in the running for Google Fiber. Currently, Provo, Utah, Kansas City, Kans., and Kansas City, Mo., have the ultra-fast Internet and it is currently under construction in Austin, Tx.

Google is asking the cities in the running to show they have the infrastructure and processes in place for a smooth expansion. Google expects to announce which cities the company will invest in by the end of 2014.