Bring Google broadband experiment to Rochester!

HARRY DAVIS ON THE ISSUES

Bring Google broadband experiment to Rochester!

Google announced this week that they are planning to build a high-speed fiber optic broadband network. Why is this news? Because the network would enable consumers using their network to browse the Internet at a gigabit per second. That, according to the New York Times, would be 100 times the speed of many broadband connections.

Google has said that they will test this in various communities. One community I hope they consider is Rochester.

(Note: You can visit this website to nominate Rochester to become one of the test cities:
https://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/)

Our leaders in Albany and Washington have talked about universal broadband and faster Internet connections, but little has been done to put these ideas in action. As a candidate for the 131st Assembly District, I promise to make universal broadband a priority because I know that this would provide a major boost to our local economy.

For those within the city of Rochester, high speed Internet is a huge necessity. Businesses, employees and average citizens depend on Internet for personal and professional use.

Everyone who is fed up with the terrible service provided by Time Warner Cable and Frontier should take 1 minute and place a nomination. Rochester is a very deserving market with a population that is very tech-savvy and a regional network of this capacity could greatly benefit the community.

But our efforts to bring Google to Rochester shouldn't be where our broadband efforts stop. We need universal broadband. The 131st district includes rural towns like Riga and Wheatland, who would benefit from broadband. In fact, while urban broadband efforts need to be pushed, it is rural areas who would benefit greatly from universal broadband. Rural areas have struggled to draw businesses because of lack of Internet access. Universal broadband and/or improved connections provide opportunities for business growth and job creation.

I will make universal broadband and efforts like Google's a top priority. Like high speed rail, universal broadband creates opportunity and that's what my candidacy for New York State Assembly is all about. I will be a leader in the Assembly on behalf of citizens in the 131st. I want a better environment in which we live and a better environment to do business.

We live in the 21st century. We need to provide the resources that match our times. Universal broadband isn't a luxury item. It is a necessity. I will strive to bring universal broadband to this district and support its implementation throughout New York.