Wisconsin communities want Google high-speed internet project

UNDATED (WSAU) At least five Wisconsin cities are now interested in hosting an experiment by Google that could speed up local Internet service by up to 100 times.

Madison and Superior were the first in Wisconsin to apply to host Google Fiber – a test fiber-optic network that would carry the rapid Internet traffic. Now, Milwaukee is scrambling to put together an application to host the project. Marshfield has provided an initial survey sought by Google, and will decide what to do next if the city passes that test. Appleton is the other city that’s interest. Applications are due in just over two weeks.

Google says it will announce the winners by the end of the year.

Superior is joining with nearby Duluth Minnesota in its bid. Duluth Mayor Don Ness has a video on You Tube in which jumps into Lake Superior – and he says other mayors who are applying should take the same leap. The Milwaukee mayor’s office said it sprung into action after residents asked the city to do so. Several thousand people have nominated their communities for a test network that could be 300 times faster than D-S-L.

Google has not said how many cities it will choose.