Google high-speed internet skipping Hillsborough
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Google Fiber is coming to the Triangle, but not all towns will benefit.
Hillsborough, for one, won't have access to the ultra-fast internet connection. The town tells ABC11 officials tried to get a seat at the table with Google when talks first started, but conversations were tabled.
People living in Hillsborough were hoping for reliable internet service. Every other day, Mia Phillips heads to the Cup of Joe coffee shop in downtown. There she can log onto the internet without fear of being kicked off.
"Here it's a lot faster than what I'm used to," said Phillips.
The sophomore college student said she cannot do any of her work at home, which is just 15 miles outside of downtown.
"It's really spotty where I live. So I'll come in here for hours sometimes and just sit here and do my homework," said Philips. "I have all online courses. So if I don't have internet, I can't get any work done."
Phillips is just one person disappointed the town isn't getting Google Fiber.
The company announced Tuesday that Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Morrisville, Garner, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill were tapped to soon get ultra-fast internet. Google Fiber boasts speeds up to 100 times faster than basic broadband.
The Town of Hillsborough said they petitioned Google and were rejected.
"We actually tried to get [and to] be part of the meetings to petition to get Google Fiber in Hillsborough. But because of the density and population of the town, combined with it being pretty far from Chapel Hill and Durham, they let us know that they weren't going to be coming to Hillsborough," said town spokesperson Jennifer Della Valle.
The town said right now there are no plans for Google Fiber in the future. Officials are hoping though it becomes an option down the line and residents do as well.
"If the infrastructure exists, it's really just a matter of getting Google, persuading them that we're a market that is worthy of it," said resident Sarah Jarvis.
That could give Phillips an opportunity to actually do her homework at home, instead of spending half the week and hours on end trying to concentrate inside a coffee shop with a good internet connection.
"Out in the country, I know it's a lot worse. I have pretty bad internet in the area I live here," said Phillips.
Orange County and the town are discussing expanding internet service in the downtown area. They plan to provide free Wi-Fi. Service is planned for the Churton Street corridor between the Eno River and Tryon Street.
ABC11 reached out to Google for a response.
"We don't have any current plans to expand to additional cities beyond those in the initial announcement. We love that people are excited about Fiber, but we have to start somewhere - we have a lot of work to do before we can talk about additional expansion plans," said Google spokesperson Lauren Barriere.
