Google says net neutrality won't affect fiber rollout plans

Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) said it will continue to invest in bringing its fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) services to more cities regardless of what direction the FCC takes with net neutrality.

This is in contrast to incumbent telcos and cable operators like AT&T (NYSE: T), Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ), who maintain that if the FCC moves forward with reclassifying broadband under Title II of the Telecom Act, it could impede new investments.

When asked by The Washington Post if the impending net neutrality rules would alter their buildout plans, Google Fiber said no.

"The sort of open Internet rules that the [Federal Communications Commission] is currently discussing aren't an impediment to those plans," Google said in a statement, "and they didn't impact our decision to invest in Fiber."

Earlier this month, Google Fiber wrote in an FCC filing that if the FCC proceeds with reclassifying broadband providers under Title II of the Telecom Act, it could enable it to more readily gain access to utility poles and related infrastructure like ducts owned by electric and gas utility companies.

Gaining access to rights-of-way and more favorable zoning laws to place equipment huts to deliver services are key decision factors in where Google Fiber will take its service to next.

"What is important to us is that laws and regulations do not impede new deployment," Google said.

Dennis Kish, VP of Google Fiber, said during a conference call with the press on Tuesday that cities have been working to make themselves "fiber ready and engage with us and that really does speed up the time we need in construction."

On Tuesday, Google Fiber announced it would be bringing its FTTP service to a number of new metro areas, including Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. At that time, the service provider said that is also still considering bringing service to other cities, including Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Phoenix and San Jose.

For more:
- The Washington Post has this article

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