Google Considers Metro Atlanta for Fiber Network

Officials with the Silicon Valley giant say it operates much faster than the speed provided by other cable services.

Google is working with a number of cities across the country finding out where it is feasible to set up shop.

It’s early in the process, but city officials are keeping their fingers crossed.

“We think  that people are going to see us as a tech-savvy city, as a city that’s wired.  As a city that’s ready for, you know, today’s high-speed environment,” says Carlos Campos, a spokesman for Mayor Kasim Reed.

An audio version of this story.

Decatur is another one of the local cities being placed underneath the Google microscope.

“We’ve gotten emails and other communications from residents and business people who are very supportive and basically saying, ‘Do whatever it takes to make sure this happens in Decatur.’  And we’re certainly going to do whatever it takes,” says Peggy Merriss, the city manager of Decatur.

The other cities in metro Atlanta being considered by Google: Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, College Park, East Point, Hapeville, Sandy Springs and Smyrna.