Wharton Wants Google Fiber Network

Memphis, Tn - Google, choose Memphis! That's what Mayor AC Wharton wants to happen. The mayor says he needs your help to convince the search engine giant to choose Memphis to build and test a high speed fiber optic network.

We caught up with Mayor Wharton just one day after he announced via Twitter that he wants Google fiber in Memphis. Wharton is more optimistic than ever, saying this project will benefit everyone, not just young, tech-savvy teens.

A Google spokesperson says "We're announcing our plans to build and test ultra high speed broadband networks in the United States."

The big announcement made waves across the country.

The mayor of Duluth, Minnesota says "Well, we're so excited about the possibility of Google and we want to demonstrate the enthusiasm by having the mayor jump in Lake Superior at probably 35 degrees."

Somewhere in Kansas, they've changed their name to Google, city leaders everywhere are throwing themselves at the search engine giant, including our very own mayor!

"Memphis wants this, we're going to make good use of it," says Wharton.

Google will provide fiber to home service with speeds up to 1 gigabit second for at least 50,000 people, and potentially up to 500,000 people. Prices will stay low, but Google has to pick the place for the project. Wharton thinks Memphis is it!

"We have a head-start because we already have fiber optic widely available," says Wharton.

The Google network will be 100 times faster than current connection speeds.

"We're doing this because we want to experiment with new ways to make the web better and faster for everyone," says the Google spokesperson.

Wharton nominated the Bluff City, and he's been campaigning for your help on Twitter. In one post, he writes, we're going to need everyone's help to make our Google fiber application a success. In another, nominate Memphis!

Wharton says "We're going to make sure that when it comes to the superhighway of the internet access here, that they're off and on ramps in every neighborhood in our great city."

Wharton says a project like this will help bridge the digital divide because he says there are far too many places in the city where the access is not quick and easy. But what is easy, is the video you can make and send to Google, for a chance at the fastest internet superhighway we've ever seen!

The application is due later this month, so you have to move quickly. Wharton says the video only needs to be 1 - 2 minutes long.