Google Fiber applies for service franchise to bring FTTP service to Tennessee

Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) has applied for a franchise agreement in Tennessee, a sign that the service provider is laying the ground work to make a possible launch of its 1 Gbps fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) service in Nashville, reports The Tennessean.

In February, Google Fiber said it began exploring the idea of bringing its 1 Gbps fiber to the home (FTTH) service to Nashville and 33 other cities across 9 U.S. metro areas with a decision to be made by the end of this year.

Over the past nine months, Metro Nashville has finished a checklist about access to city infrastructure like rights-of-way on utility poles and conduit. Google Fiber favors communities that can not only provide access to necessary infrastructure but also a streamlined permitting process. 

"Google Fiber intends to begin to offer video service for purchase or provide new broadband Internet service," said Google Fiber in a filing.

What's interesting about the service provider's filing is that it comes almost two weeks after AT&T said it would hold on future fiber buildout plans for Nashville and the 100 other cities it earmarked for FTTP expansion, a factor that could give Google Fiber some lead time for its own buildout if it actually moves ahead with plans.

"There's still a lot of work to do beyond this agreement, but we hope to provide an update about whether we can bring Fiber to Nashville by the end of the year," said Google Fiber spokeswoman Kelly Mason in an email.

In the filing, Google said the service area would include Metro and Davidson County, but it does not include Nashville's satellite cities like Goodlettsville, Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills and Oak Hill. Google Fiber said that this does not mean it won't bring 1 Gbps service to satellite cities.

There's still no guarantee that Google Fiber will bring its FTTP service to Nashville. In Leawood, Kan., Google Fiber recently abandoned an effort to bring service to that city due to what it said was an unfavorable construction environment, for example.

Outside of Nashville, Google Fiber has revealed pricing for its stand-alone and bundle service tiers in Austin that are similar to what it's offering in Kansas City.

For more:
- The Tennessean has this article

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