I can't wait to ditch comcast. 1gb internet would certainly make my porn collection enlarge, not to mention my pants! Think of all of that HD porn...

The foundation of the Chrome OS is that data isn't stored locally, which depends on having a reliable and fast internet connection. That's a pretty good motivation right there.

And I'm all for yanking some small measure of control away from companies like AT&T. Sure, Google is itself a behemoth, but the motto is "don't be evil" and they've done a pretty good job so far.

I don't care what Google is supposedly 'taking over'. The fact of the matter is, like any other company Google has been built by those who support the company. There's no such thing as something 'taking over' the internet unless it involves legislation. As of right now, the internet is wide open and about as free as you can get.

If you don't like a company expanding its services especially when those services are done very well, then you have a case of paranoia. Sure, it's access to a lot of information and one could beg to argue the 'Big Brother' effect, but no one is forcing you to use these services. I, for one, am all for a 1gb transfer speed. Just think of the possibilities that would bring to the web with everything from HD video to cloud computing.

I don't know who your ISP is Clint, but if it is anything like Time Warner and the other existent options, I have no idea why something like Google doing broadband would be such a problem. Google has figured out how not to be a dumb pipe while providing a good customer experience and not ripping the user off. So, more power to them.

Considering how things are handled with no competition to be found, I love to see big companies adding to the competition. I can't recall a time where I have been so disappointed or frustrated with their service. They always seem to come out with some really tasteful treats.

It doesn't matter if this is developed by Google or some other venue: The human minds want to network and the ever more rapid exchange of information is the goal. Society will change drastically and there will be winners and losers who cry foul. We have very few clues how intensely networked human minds will act, what challenges the individual faces, what part emotions and mass hysteria will play, how politics will be conducted. This is only the stone age of electronic communication. Yet we have opened gates and can't close them anymore - so best to jump in with a wary eye.
If information is immediate and always accessible, the need arises not only to increasingly filter, but also to selectively forget no longer needed data.

Investing in hardware however could be the downfall of the behemoth Google. A new technology could catch them off guard. Google might be better adviced to invest into neuroscience.

Most ISP's have had a monopoly over many areas of the country, not only with providing broadband connection, but also with both cable tv and landline phone services. Verizon and AT&T have been attempting to claim their stake in this, but as far as I know they haven't been all that successful with it. To be honest, my parents recently attempted a switch to AT&T's new fiber network, only to find that fiber wouldn't even be laid down to the house. I think the competition that Google can bring will only better the consumer. I am honestly not much of a fan of Google, as I know they have had many arrangements with the U.S. government concerning "homeland security", which can only ever be bad news, but I honestly feel someone needs to come in and shake up the ISP monopoly that has plagued the progress of the internet in America when compared to somewhere like Japan or South Korea.

I think this is a great move on Google's part.

Providing America with internet at higher speeds than current ISP's will push for competition in this ISP monopoly, ISP's will be forced to upgrade to higher speed networks or face loss of customer base.

And for developers we can finally build bandwith heavy applications, I already have a couple of ideas.

Great move Google!

We in 'The Woodlands-Conroe', Texas would love to test this out. If not us, then my friends in 'Katy', Texas certainly will enjoy it. Give us a chance!

It doesn't matter. Google can never truly become that dreaded perception of Microsoft in the 1990s. The World Wide Web, by definition, expands horizontally. It is decentralized. It is controlled by no one, and expanded by anyone. This is a sharp contrast to the PC desktop environment of the mid '90s where there was only one real OS option, backed by OEM deals and hostile acquisitions of competitors. No matter how big Google gets, on the web, there is always an alternative; be it Microsoft, Lycos, Yahoo, or some new player.

So we are to fear Google Creep!? This is what passes for Commentary on the web? Can we be a little more precise? What is it that is threatening about Google? Specifically what does Google Creep threaten to DO?

What is the Outcome that we are too fear??

If we cannot explain that, then this Creep idea might be just fear mongering and shilling for the pathetic Cable and Telco giants. Also, comparing Google to Microsoft is pretty poor analogizing. Microsoft was built by monopoly (read Bill Gates federal testimony where he whined like a baby). Google is being built via that ever rarer phenomenon, American Excellence.

Please, I’m on my knees here… awaken to reality.

The Web is a huge ocean and Google is simply one of many little craft afloat. Microsoft actually achieved global monopoly whereby only the EU was left to slap them down… a little. In Google’s case, the Web is so huge, with billions of users, that Google could only THREATEN to set high standards!

You think it threatens do something else? What?

I really don't like being in the position of agreeing with Steve Jobs, but he absolutely nailed it when he said Google's "do no evil" is bulls**t.

ANYTHING that promotes Net Neutrality and open access AND no obstacles to speed is GOOD. Other broadband carriers have throttle control over data speeds when in reality the concept is akin to asking how many words of the radio would you like to hear....? 45 rpm speed, 78 rpm speed or real-time? Get the idea. It's nonsense that as consumers we should be offered such a ludacris option as to how fast or slow we want our internet access. Remember, they get there license to provide such services via the FCC! We the people...seems I remember hearing that somewhere.....hmmm.
We are paying to screw ourselves every time someone pays a 'premium' rate for 'premium speed'. You just don't know it. Maybe you have a clue now.

This article is bull. Google isn't "creeping" into new markets because it wants to run every business related to the internet. It is entering these markets to force the competitions' hand -- up the competition. Think of google's investment in broadband as the "public option" of healthcare reform. Same goes for their work in the mobile space. When google made moves to bid in the wireless spectrum auction a couple of years ago they didn't actually want to operate a wireless company -- they just wanted to ensure the new rules of wireless would mandate openness.

Google has bet 100% on the internet. When more people use the internet for more things, google makes more money from advertising.

i doubt it will happen.
i hope it doesnt.
i hate google.

How can there be NO comments? How can there be a more fascinating and important discussion in the whole world today. This is amazing. We are living in a real-time, live empire rising moment. This is amazing. Can you believe it? How much power does Google already have!

In answering "Where does your attitude lie?" I am a little biased because I have seen the future, well, to be honest, I have read the future. I am a marketing specialist, a successful businessman, married, not crazy so excuse this B-word, however the Bible says that the world will come under the control of some form of technological totalitarian rule. Who knows the specifics or when however one day all this is going to emerge and I am interested in watching it unfold. A guy called Texe Marrs who is most certainly extreme in his views predicted this, including the EU and other things way back in the early 70s.

Ankesh:

I don't know who my ISP is. :) No, seriously I use AT&T Uverse and it's been great. Most people don't care, so long as it works.

Johnathon:

Give me a chance! Just rolled out of bed. not even 7:30 a.m. here. :)

Logan:

Some might say your position is why we must fear Google. Forcing the competition's hand is another way to exert control over a market. How much control is too much? When Google has $50B in the bank instead of $25B? $100B? When it owns the government? Just one point to consider...

Hmm, this site seems to be full of Google-fearing conspirationists who are compelled to compare Google with Micro$oft. But the thing is, most (if not all) of Google's services and products don't monopoly in their respective niche. Which means you are free to choose a substitute at any time, which wouldn't affect your performance. For search you can use Bing, Yahoo, Ask or any other service that's still around. For marketing you can use other services (e.g. Facebook) or contact the websites individually to negotiate some terms. Google has made it simpler, yet it's by far isn't the only way of doing internet advertising. The same holds for internet access. Unfortunately Google hasn't even entered the ISP market but its move is already frowned upon. Yet it'll bring a stronger competition that'll drive prices down and speed/quality/reliability up. It's just hypocritic that first everyone bashes Comcast for all its anti-customer moves, then they turn around and hate a company for trying to make things better in this market. It's really true that it's impossible to satisfy everyone. It's because there are always many people who'll view every good idea with suspicion and some will even try to act against them. Like in case of Street View: the idea is really awesome! Yet morons all around the world began to oppose it because they've seen a year-old photo of their house on Google Maps. A photo that anyone can make even without the slightest risk of invading one's privacy. Such people existed ever since the ancient times, I guess. First they opposed the usage of wheel. Then usage of copper, bronze, iron, concrete, gunpowder, machines etc. What a pity that such people have voting rights too...
P.S. Before you ask, no, I'm NOT a Google employee nor am I associated with them. I'm just a simple user like many others, who doesn't like good ideas getting opposed for no obvious reason.

It's not for no obvious reason. Businesses aren't born with harmful intent. It is completely reasonable to question whether companies are gaining and leveraging too much power. Too much power in the hands of one entity raises the risk of abuse and exploitation.

Do I believe something terrible is going to happen? No, not necessarily. But I will be the one standing there when it does, not to say I told you so, but to act accordingly to protect my data.

Google and other large institutions always should be watched closely; however the "watchers" risk loss of credibility when they warn of threats without bringing rigor to the warning. Simply saying that Google has $25 BILLION!! is only to say that they have Potential Power. If you are a Google hater or watcher, you are obliged to tell what Outcome you dread and why.

At least one of the posters here openly admits that he has, dare I say it, RELIGIOUS reasons for "hating" Google. Well there is a certain logic to that. Whereas there is little logic to continually pointing to Google's Potential Power without clearly isolating real and dangerous Outcomes.

I do not expect to see much rigor in the Google Watching game. Outcome Prediction requires analytical expertise, which is in short supply.

Google does search.
Google makes a browser.
Google makes an operating system.
Google provides DNS services.
Google (will) operate the high speed pipes.

The list above covers just about the entire infrastructure of computing. Any of these components can be used to filter or channel content in ways that are invisible to outsiders.

This is far beyond anything that Microsoft ever controlled.

One entity with control over that many moving parts gets to write all the rules. If everyone is Ok with that, I guess there is no reason to complain.

"It is completely reasonable to question whether companies are gaining and leveraging too much power. Too much power in the hands of one entity raises the risk of abuse and exploitation."

You are either paranoid or been hired to astroturf this fear from Google. Internet is too big to be dominated by one company.

I would fear Microsoft more than Google.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Microsoft

I just heard that Google is no longer cool, and

that it may very well be about to "do evil"...

Apparently it is negotiating with Verizon to set up a tiered system - pay and no pay - regarding cell phone content...

... so it may be the end of google having our deep admiration and having our trust. If Google proclaims that it is staunchly in favor of net neutrality, and then sets up deals that will destroy that, it is no longer credible and certainly not cool...........