By Andra Bryan Stefanoni
news@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Medicine, education, law enforcement, business.
Mark Turnbull, the city’s economic development director, is hard-pressed to think of any area of a resident’s life that wouldn’t be affected by the installation of ultra high-speed Internet and fiber-broadband access.
Such technology is 100 times faster than the access available now to Pittsburg and surrounding communities.
That means, for example, that physicians could transmit diagnostic imaging between hospitals 100 times faster, and teachers could use digitally streamed educational videos with 100 times greater efficiency.
That’s why Turnbull is crossing his fingers that the application he submitted last week to Google Inc. will be approved.
“We’re part of a region of three states, six counties, nine Indian nations and 30 communities to join with Joplin to apply to Google for this model project,” Turnbull said. “If we’re selected, it would mean Google would put in high-speed Internet and fiber-broadband access.
“If we are selected, it will affect virtually everyone in Crawford County, meaning an increased service to businesses that rely on data transmission, a lot of our offices, education, the medical field, linking clinics with major medical centers, public safety and law enforcement.”
It also would be attractive to businesses considering setting up shop in the area.
“It would allow us to recruit maybe a different type of business, like a data center,” he said.
Pittsburg’s application was submitted Thursday to meet Friday’s deadline. The competition, Turnbull said, is fierce.
“I heard there was something like 40,000 applications submitted the first day,” he said. “It’s a very extensive project, and very selective. It will mean Google spending tens of millions of dollars on laying fiber and massive construction that goes along with laying a cyber backbone.“
He hopes the diversity and rural setting of the collaborating group of applicants will set it apart.
“It’s an extraordinary amount of work by the city of Joplin’s IT director, Mark Morris, and Joplin chamber President Rob O’Brian,” Turnbull said. “They both have spent countless hours day and night coordinating, graphing, communicating, and finalizing this process. We’re just thrilled to be able to partner with them. It will be a win-win for literally everyone.”
Region
The project criteria stipulate that a community must have a population of 50,000 or greater. Cities like Pittsburg, Arma, Neosho, Miami and Webb City submitted support applications with Joplin so that a larger region is represented.
