A new fiber-optic network with speeds 100 times faster than broadband could be a possibility for cities in metro areas with ICMA member managers. Google selected a total of 34 cities in eight metro areas to submit documentation for consideration. Of the 34 cities, 24 have ICMA member managers (indicated by an asterisk below).

• Arizona: Phoenix*, Scottsdale*, Tempe
• California: San Jose*, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View*, Palo Alto*
• Georgia: Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven*, College Park*, Decatur*, East Point, Hapeville*, Sandy Springs*, Smyrna*
• North Carolina: Charlotte*, Carrboro*, Cary*, Chapel Hill*, Durham*, Garner*, Morrisville*, Raleigh*
• Oregon: Portland, Beaverton*, Hillsboro*, Gresham*, Lake Oswego, Tigard*
• Tennessee: Nashville, Davidson
• Texas: San Antonio*
• Utah: Salt Lake City

Google makes the case for selecting these cities because “These cities are led by people who have been working hard to bring faster Internet speeds and the latest technologies to their residents. We believe these are communities who will do amazing things with a gig. And they are diverse--not just geographically, but in the ways they’ll give us opportunities to learn about the wide range of challenges and obstacles that communities might face in trying to build a new fiber network.” 

The cities must provide to Google detailed checklists with information about existing infrastructure, ease of access to infrastructure, and “efficient and predictable permit and construction processes.”  A possible obstacle might be bedrock that makes underground construction difficult.

Kansas City and 17 cities in the metro area as well as Provo, Utah, and Austin, Texas, already have Google Fiber projects started. Google hopes to make decisions about the 34 cities in the metro areas by the end of 2014.