College Park Makes Premature Google Fiber Statement

Within 24 hours, he issued what he called a “clarification,” saying that Brookhaven was merely in the running for Google’s new service.

The same thing just happened in College Park.

On Monday, College Park officials issued a press release saying Google selected its city for the fiber internet service.

The following is the opening of the College Park press release which we received Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 10:54 AM:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 10, 2014

College Park Selected For Google Fiber

Service offers internet speeds 100 times faster than most residential connections

College Park, GA — The City of College Park has been selected by Google to introduce fiber to the home, the ultra-high speed broadband network called Google Fiber, currently being installed in select cities across America.

“We welcome the arrival of Google Fiber to the College Park community,” said College Park Mayor Jack P. Longino.  I believe our progressive approach makes us a good match.”  

However, in an email to WABE on Tuesday, Google spokeswoman Jenna Wandres said College Park has not been confirmed for Google Fiber.

Shortly after that email was sent, an additional email came from a College Park spokesman. Communication Director Gerald Walker’s statement was: 

“I would like to clarify that though College Park is one of of the 9 Metro Atlanta cities being considered to receive Google Fiber, no final selections or decisions have been made.  College Park is working with the Google team to provide information regarding the city’s infrastructure capacity to support this project. I assure you that city staff will do everything it can to bring fiber to College Park. We are all very excited that Google has identified College Park as one of 34 cities nationwide to potentially receive Google Fiber.

 However, the decision regarding which cities will receive Google Fiber will be announced by Google by the end of this year.” 

An audio version of this story.

Wandres says Google has been talking every week with several Atlanta area cities about Fiber, but that no final decisions will be made until the end of the year.

Previously Google said College Park and Brookhaven were two of the nine metro Atlanta cities being considered for Google Fiber.

The other cities named are: Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Decatur, East Point, Hapeville, Sandy Springs and Smyrna.

No word from Google on why two cities have now spoken prematurely on the matter.