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Posted on Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : noon

GoogleFest to feature 'flash mob' and entertainment to show support for Google high-speed Internet

By Erica Hobbs

Supporters of enticing Google’s high-speed Internet to Ann Arbor are preparing to end the request for information period with a bang.

A2 Fiber and other collaborators are organizing GoogleFest, a daylong event Friday that will include music, entertainment and discounts at area businesses.

“Our goal is to have it be the biggest A2 Fiber supporting event to catapult the city onto the national level,” Ann Arbor Ad Club President Chad Wiebesick said. “This is our last opportunity, we want to make it on the national news.”

Google launched a nationwide competition in February to decide which city would be the test site for its new fiber optic network. The plan would process one gigabit of data per second and provide Internet speeds about 100 times faster than most Americans have today.

Cities across the country have been employing creative means as they compete for Google’s attention. The mayor of Duluth, Minn., jumped into Lake Superior to show his enthusiasm, while Topeka, Kansas, has renamed itself “Google” for the month of March to demonstrate its interest. 

Grand Rapids, Lansing and the nearby communities of Saline and Pittsfield Township are also vying for the network. The deadline for Google’s request for information is Friday.

Wiebesick said Googlefest will start with a flash mob from 11:57 a.m. to noon on the Diag of the University of Michigan’s campus. He said participants will gather on the site to sing the A2 Fiber anthem (created at their most recent event Sunday). The crowd will be recorded on video and sent to Google to demonstrate Ann Arbor’s interest in the project.

Watch A2 Fiber supporters sing and perform the A2 Fiber anthem


Wiebesick said a booth of laptop computers will be available on the Diag from noon to 8 p.m. to encourage people to submit a formal request to Google to bring its high-speed Internet to Ann Arbor. 

Co-organizer Brandon Wallace, one of the leaders of the student-based organization One Gigabit Future, said he is organizing U-M student groups to perform from noon to 5 p.m. and live local bands will play from 5-8 p.m. on the Diag.

Participating businesses will also have laptops on hand for patrons to show their support via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or submitting a formal request to Google.

The businesses include:

  • Ashley's (338 S. State St.) - 10 percent off bill
  • Bivouac (336 S. State St.) - spend $50 and get 10 percent off. Expires at 6 p.m. Friday.
  • BTB Burrito (810 S. State St.) - 50 cents off any burrito
  • Buffalo Wild Wings (205 S. State St.) - Receive four free boneless chicken wings from noon to 1 p.m.
  • Conor O'Neills (318 S. Main St.) - 15 percent off order from noon to 4 p.m.
  • Stucchi's Ice Cream (302 S. State St. and 1121 S. University Ave.) - Buy one ice cream and get a second free from noon to 5 p.m.

Wallace said it's Ann Arbor’s last chance to prove itself to Google.

“I don't think Google cares about seeing a mayor jump in a lake,” he said. “I think Google cares much more about people being able to organize themselves and come together at multiple levels to get behind a cause, and of course, to be able to throw a good party.”

Erica Hobbs is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2537 or via email at ericahobbs@annarbor.com.

Comments

treetowntenor

Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 7:58 a.m.

Google is a big business with a good marketing department. So good, that they've got people falling all over themselves. All they're doing is showing a desirable product, and then creating a shortage for it, to stoke up demand. "Tickle Me Google" comes to mind. Personally, I don't want a *data mining company* carrying all my data to and from my house.

Steve Pepple

Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 7:52 a.m.

A comment has been removed because it contained personal attacks against another commenter. Please discuss the story in a civil manner.

BigSexy76

Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 9:05 p.m.

The? is how it benefits us if Google chooses Ann Arbor or the other surrounding communities? Will we be ground zero for some governement experiement?

Soothslayer

Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.

My Internet is fast enough. I can watch full Dolby 6.1 surround HD video on demand anytime I want over IP (Netflix, etc) via Comcast (Uverse folks can do it too). No idea what I could possibly do better productivity wise with more bandwidth. For entertainment bandwidth may help with P2P file sharing but most of that is illegal content so don't want to advocate that is a good reason. Anyone got any realistic/practical/productive uses for gigabit fiber in every home? Lamborghini Murcielagos for everyone to drive around in! Why? Who knows? Anyway have a good party, weather should be nice.

Erica Hobbs

Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 4:36 p.m.

"Flash mob" was the term described to me by the organizers. My understanding of "flash mob" is that there will be a bunch of people gathered for a short period of time before dispersing.

Mike D.

Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.

Is it a flash mob when it's in the press beforehand? Doesn't it then just become an amateur dance routine?

Lokalisierung

Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 3:45 p.m.

I for one am salivating over the thought of these speeds!

iceman

Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 2:18 p.m.

Ooh, such a negative vibe! And buy the way,I can live with a third! My glass is half full!

iceman

Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.

Our mayor and the U of M should be on top of this one. Our city needs this. It will help business and residents. Can yor imagine how the press will read if we loose. Co-founder went to U of M, Google sales office in A2, But they chose another city. I joined A2 fiber, Facebook and I'll be at the diag friday. This is a battle, and you don't take a fingernail file to knife fight!