I filled out the formal request for Google fiber. This was my statement.
I originally grew up in California and moved here to Duluth 21 years ago. I fell in love with this place during my first winter here. I, despite the challenging economic realities here, have been able to have a good career here as a Database Administer. Not many people here have been as fortunate as I. Our community has been in economic doldrums for decades. Our population declined steeply in the seventies and has been slowly dropping ever since. Smart and talented kids grow up here go to school here and then leave because the Twin Ports do not have the exciting opportunities that other larger metro areas have. The people who do stay here are a hardy bunch and love this town quite passionately (for Minnesotans). They love the beauty and the spirit of this place I call home.
I think Google fiber to our homes and small businesses in the Twin Ports would be an excellent test bed to show that affordable and high-speed access can make a positive change in how we make our living and how we live our lives.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
