Technology

For all of the hype Silicon Valley gets as the birthplace of American technological innovation, the broadband networks in cities like Palo Alto have never kept pace. Like most towns and cities across the U.S., Palo Alto residents have long complained about the slow speeds, high prices, and comically terrible customer service they get from their regional broadband monopolies: Comcast and AT&T.

For twenty years, Palo Alto officials had talked about potentially building a city-owned fiber network with an eye on improving speeds, expanding service, and lowering prices. And after a lot of ups and downs and dead ends, the city is finally moving forward on the plan, which will involve delivering cheap, multi-gigabit fiber access via the city’s existing electrical utility: