13 WTHRIndiana towns vie for Google's high-speed network

Indiana towns vie for Google's high-speed network

Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News

Anderson - Several Indiana towns are hoping to get connected, thanks to Google.

The message on the marquee Monday couldn't be clearer. Anderson is one of the cities across the state and nation vying for Google's planned super-fast Internet test network.

At a Monday rally, the city laid out its bid to be one of the cities and states interested in joining the experiment that would offer Internet speeds of up to 100 times faster than most consumers get today. A test for the next generation of high speed Internet applications, devices and services.

In Anderson, it could mean much more, including jobs, education and opportunity for residents.

Google says that it doesn't want to build a nationwide network, just a trial service for 50,000-500,000 people, pitting Indiana towns and cities against each other in a bid to win the service.

Fort Wayne, Bloomington, Carmel, Westfield and Fishers are some of the locations applying before the March 26 deadline. Google says that its network will run on fiber optic lines. Representatives in Anderson and Fishers say those lines are already present, giving their towns an advantage.

"We're estimating that 50 percent of our roads are fiber optic-ready and we also have an advantage in that our fiber optic connects us to Indianapolis, which we think sets us apart," said Sarah Rittman Allain.

Cities hoping to land Google's super-fast network say the benefits to business and education and consumers are clear - Internet speeds the world hasn't seen and a service that many cities are going to great lengths to connect to.