Why Google Should Choose Moncks Corner


The Town of Moncks Corner, SC has developed a unique public/private partnership with Home Telephone Company in the completion of the RFI.    

The most important criteria Google should consider in selecting test bed locations is not how much Google can do for the area selected, but rather how the test area can help assure a successful test project in an effective and efficient manner.   The Moncks Corner/Home Telephone partnership is uniquely situated in this regard and will demonstrate what can be accomplished when a technology company like Google teams with a skilled local infrastructure provider and the local government. The results will be the creation and development of a powerful model that could be duplicated throughout America. 

The Moncks Corner/Home Telephone partnership offers a number of key attributes that provide Google an excellent opportunity to deploy a viable ultra-high speed broadband test network.  The key factors that set this partnership apart are:  (1) willing participation of our rural local exchange company, (2) proximity to existing Google data center, (3) superior geological and climate conditions, (4) existing rural education and medical complexes, and (5) excellent growth potential. 
 

  1. Perhaps the most unique and certainly most important benefit the town of Moncks Corner brings to the table is the willingness of our incumbent local exchange carrier to partner with Google.  Home Telephone Company, Inc., has been providing quality telecommunication service to our town for over 100 years.  They have been a natural leader in deploying FTTH technology since 2004 and currently serving approximately 15% of its customer base via FTTH.  They have local fiber technicians and maintenance crews.  They have an existing customer base, back office support systems and management knowhow.  They have existing right of way, conduit, handholds, soft switches and associated electronics.  This offers Google the ability to hit the ground running.  The deployment of an ultra-fast high speed network can begin as soon as Google can develop the plans.
 
  1. The close proximity of Google’s Mt Holly data center offers tremendous synergy to Google.  Google’s facilities and employee support network are in place.  Also critical is the fact that ultra-high speed broadband to the end user will require even faster backhaul to a functioning data center.  The close proximity to the data center will minimize transport cost and maximize the value of the local data center. In addition, Home has existing networks and facilities to rapidly scale up the “middle-mile” transport to various peering and internet transiting points.
 
  1. The ability to quickly and economically deploy a fiber to the premise network is also dependent on the climate and terrain of the area in which it will be deployed.  Given the vast volume of information and the critical importance a fiber to the premise connection will have, buried construction will be important to network survivability and continuity.  The Moncks Corner area has near perfect terrain for buried projects.  It is relatively flat, free of rock and difficult soils.  In addition, the climate is such that year round construction is standard.  This would allow the network to be quickly constructed in an economical manner and allow Google to concentrate on the actual broadband test, rather than being tested by the construction.
 
  1. Another important factor in selecting a site is the ability to connect satellite educational and medical services into major institutions.  The Moncks Corner area has a branch campus community college that could be used to demonstrate what becomes possible when it is connected by ultra-fast broadband to major centers of higher learning.  In the same manner, the area is home to two satellite emergency care centers tied to major hospitals in the greater Charleston area.  Again, this offers the ability to demonstrate what ultra fast connections can do for rural health care.
 
  1. Finally, the greater Moncks Corner area has all of the ingredients necessary and is poised on the edge of rapid growth.  The development of an ultra-fast broadband network could be the catalyst that would propel this growth.  Again, this would clearly demonstrate the value of an ultra high speed network to generate economic development.
 

While other communities vying to be selected for the fiber project will produce slick applications, generate large volumes of citizen responses, or even demonstrate the greatest “need”, these do nothing to help assure a viable test. For this project to succeed, Google should concentrate on the larger picture of creating a sustainable network that can be duplicated throughout America.  In short, Google should seek to partner with local entities that possess the physical network operational skills to sustain this network not only during the test period, but also on-going well after the test completion.  The Moncks Corner/Home Telephone partnership provides the perfect combination to help ensure this test is a success.