Google Fiber files franchise application with state

Google Fiber has applied for a franchise authority certificate in Tennessee, signaling the company is moving forward with plans for gigabit speed Internet in Nashville.

The company announced in February it would begin scoping out Nashville and 33 other cities nationwide for fiber expansion, saying a decision would be made by year-end. Since then, Metro completed a checklist responding to the company’s queries on infrastructure and processing procedures and has been working with Google representatives.

“Google Fiber intends to begin to offer video service for purchase or provide new broadband Internet service,” the company said in the filing.

The filing comes nearly two weeks after AT&T announced it was holding off on its fiber plans for Nashville and other cities it had promised for expansion, giving Google Fiber a competitive edge for its own rollout of fiber should they move forward officially.

“There’s still a lot of work to do beyond this agreement, but we hope to provide an update about whether we can bring Fiber to Nashville by the end of the year,” said Google Fiber spokeswoman Kelly Mason in an email.

The filing also says the service area will include Metro and Davidson County, but exclude incorporated satellite cities, without going into further detail. The company said the language does not mean it will not bring its service to the satellite cities, but those areas are not included in this particular application. Google Fiber did not have updates on any other planned franchise applications.

“This franchise agreement is another step for Google Fiber in the Metro Nashville area -- it isn't a definitive statement with regard to satellite cities,” Google Fiber spokeswoman Lauren Barriere said in an email.. “Metro Nashville has been great to work with and we look forward to engaging with satellite cities as we work our way through the process.”

Nashville’s satellite cities include Goodlettsville, Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills and Oak Hill.

“If they want to come to Forest Hills, the door is going to be wide open and the carpet will be rolled out,” said Forest Hills attorney Matt Foster.

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter @JamieMcGee_.