News
A partnership between Huntsville, Alabama and Google Fiber is being cited as a proof of the benefits public-private partnerships can deliver.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Results of a public-private partnership between Huntsville, Alabama and Google Fiber have been transformative, according to a recent spotlight posted on the website of the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB).
The spotlight focused largely on the strategy of Huntsville Utilities, which has a fiber network of roughly 1,300 route miles.
That network, which added over 50 miles last year alone, was leased to Google Fiber as part of a 20-year agreement, the AAPB spotlight reported.
The agreement, according to the AAPB, generates over seven figures annually.
“The results have been transformative,” the spotlight reported. “Competition sparked improvements from incumbents like Comcast and AT&T, providing residents with more choices and lower prices.”
According to the AAPB, Huntsville Utilities never set out to be an internet service provider.
“Instead, they focused on what utilities do best: building and maintaining infrastructure,” the piece stated.
To read the full piece about Huntsville Utilities’ partnership with Google Fiber on AAPB’s website, click here.
