Pick Me Google, Pick Me

Local governments already are starting to lobby Google for a spot along an experimental super-speed network the company announced Wednesday.

Axcess Ontario, a public-benefit corporation overseeing the development of Ontario County, N.Y.'s community fiber network, began the application process on behalf of the county government on Thursday.

Google plans to test "ultra -high-speed" networks, delivering 1 gigabit of data per second -- more than 100 times faster than typical access -- in a small number of locations. The company that started as a search firm has issued a request for information to identify interested locales.

Ontario County, a rural and suburban community near Rochester, has pledged $12 million for its own 180-mile endeavor. About 60 miles are complete and the rest is expected to be deployed by year's end.

"What Google seeks to accomplish is exactly what the Ontario County fiber optic ring was built for," Ed Hemminger, Axcess Ontario president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "Ontario County should be at the top of Google's list of potential test sites -- we've been working on this project for seven years."

Currently, service providers including Verizon Wireless, are providing cost-effective telecommunications to businesses along the 60 miles, according to Axcess Ontario. "This means Ontario County actually has the infrastructure to do what Google wants to do -- and quickly," a company press release states.

Hemminger added, "The fiber ring ensures our community will never be left behind in the global economy, and this week we can see with the Google experiment that Ontario County, N.Y., may, in fact, have an opportunity to lead the way."