2 cities working on Google bid

Omaha and Council Bluffs city officials said Thursday that working together to submit an application to become a test site for Google's new broadband fiber network sends a unified message to the Mountain View, Calif., company.

“By working together, you have two different states crossing state lines in a cooperative effort,” said Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan. “Working together sends a pretty good message that there's more to the metro area than individual cities. It's for the benefit of all.”

In a statement, Hanafan and Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle also said they also plan to incorporate Carter Lake into the effort.

With most cities across the country applying individually, the Omaha, Council Bluffs and Carter Lake partnership could set the metropolitan area apart from others, said Ron Gerard, a spokesman for Suttle.

“I think it differentiates us, having two cities combined on one application,” he said.

Google said the new network, which will be tested in at least one city with a population between 50,000 and 500,000, will be about 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to now.

Hanafan said metro officials haven't filed documents with Google yet, but employees from both cities, including attorneys, information technology professionals and representatives from both chambers of commerce are working to complete the application.

“It's lengthy,” Hanafan said.

The deadline for applications is March 26.

One of the biggest challenges has been working out details with the utilities serving the area, Metropolitan Utilities District in Omaha and MidAmerican Energy in Council Bluffs, Hanafan said.

A Facebook account created this week by the Cities of Omaha and Council Bluffs to generate support for the joint application has gained more than 1,300 fans.

Contact the writer:

444-1414, ross.boettcher@owh.com

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