Google Fiber's Nashville proposal clears key vote

In the face of a legal threat and opposition from Nashville’s (TN) two largest internet providers, the Metro Council on Sept 6 gave preliminary approval of legislation that Google Fiber says is critical for its broadband rollout into Nashville. The council voted by a wide 32-7 margin to advance Google Fiber-backed legislation dubbed One Touch Make Ready that would change the city's policy regarding utility poles and help expedite Google Fiber's entry into the Nashville market. The vote was the second of three required to pass the ordinance. The council's action was a big win for Google Fiber and came after the council voted 20-19 to defeat an effort opposed by Google Fiber to delay consideration of the ordinance until December.

"This is an extremely big step forward, an extremely big net positive for Nashville, for internet competition," said Councilman Jeremy Elrod, one of the bill's co-sponsors. "It increases competition, increases telecom and internet investment for we as a city and our citizens as a whole." At issue is a process of attaching new lines to utility poles. Google Fiber says the current system could be improved by allowing one contractor to move all lines at once to make a pole ready for a new provider. New companies must currently wait on each existing provider to move their lines, a process that can take a few months per line and that delays internet installation.