10-26-2016, 08:32 PM
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Googl...ses-138194
Quote:Google Fiber has announced that the company will be laying off an unspecified number of employees and pausing the deployment of ultra-fast broadband in several of the company's "potential" markets. According to a blog post by Access CEO Craig Barrett, Barrett will be stepping down from his role as Access CEO effective immediately, his replacement as-yet unnamed. Barrett also confirmed that Google Fiber will be pausing or ceasing fiber deployment in ten cities the company had previously claimed were "potential" markets.
The announcement comes after an August report claimed that executives at Google weren't happy with initial uptake numbers, and were considering a shift toward using wireless as a supplemental deployment option.
Barrett was quick to make it clear that service will continue in the company's existing markets (Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Kansas City, Nashville, Provo, Salt Lake City, and The Triangle in North Carolina). The company also says it remains dedicated to promised deployment plans in Huntsville, Alabama; San Antonio, Texas; Louisville, Kentucky; and Irvine, California.
But the company will be pausing or ending potential but not-yet formalized deployments in Portland, Chicago, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Diego, San Jose, and Tampa. Most of these cities had yet to see any notable work, and most were still in the early stages of conversation with Google Fiber.
That said, Barrett makes it clear that Google Fiber isn't folding up shop, but "refining" the company's existing business model.