Google Petitions for Antenna Farm

Google Fiber has petitioned the FCC to begin construction on a satellite antenna farm. Google Fiber, a subsidiary of Google, is requesting permission to place the antennas near its Council Bluffs, Iowa, data center.

Google intends to receive broadcast and other television network signals at the Iowa location, possibly to bundle them in with its high-speed fiber service.

Google announced earlier in February that it was making final preparations to begin laying in fiber from Kansas to the Missouri line. Google indicated late last year that it was contemplating adding video services to its Kansas to Missouri fiber optic service. Last Friday, Google reportedly filed franchise applications for cable distribution service in Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.

The plans for the satellite antenna farm call for 4.5 meter antennas to receive analog and digital audio signals, data transmissions and video signals. Google notes that it will receive both domestic and international satellite feeds.