From: Ogar, Jon (GOV)
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 4:21 PM
To: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Cc: Boyd, Elizabeth (GOV); Huls, JoAnne (GOV)
Subject: What the Governor's Talking about Today

Importance: High

Debbie:

 

Following is today’s edition of WTGTAT. You can send it out now. Thanks!

 

What the Governor’s Talking about Today

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

 

Governor to Meet with Google in California, Pitch Michigan for Fiber Optic Network Trial

The governor today will meet with officials at Google in California to thank them for their ongoing investment in Michigan and encourage the company to include the state in the testing of Google fiber, its new ultra-high speed fiber optic broadband network. 


Google has asked communities around the nation to submit proposals by March 26 for consideration as a trial location for the Google fiber network.  It is expected to deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today.  The fiber-to-the-home connections of more than 1 gigabit per second will be offered at a competitive price to a community of at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.
            
Granholm is encouraging Michigan communities to submit applications for the trial network with several already in the works, including Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Lansing/East Lansing.  Those applications are being supported by citizens through social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter.

 

The governor also is meeting today with California-based venture capitalists and high-tech company representatives at a luncheon roundtable to ask them to consider bringing their investments and companies to Michigan.  The venture capitalists attending today’s roundtable are Michigan natives or attended college in the state.  University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman sent a personal invitation to a dozen of the university’s most accomplished and dedicated graduates in the venture capital and entrepreneurial community.  

 

Key messages:

 

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Jon Ogar

Senior Writer/Editor

Communications Division

Office of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm

Office 517-335-6819

Cell 517-515-2743

Fax 517-335-6790