Hey Google: Let's Build A Digital Media Research Triangle In Louisiana

An idea's been germinating in me for the last few months that I want to share today for how south Louisiana can be transformed into a new research triangle for digital media, and in particular why Google should strongly consider focusing its Google Fiber efforts on this area.

The basic thesis is simple: if Google were to wire New Orleans and Baton Rouge with fiber, when combined with Lafayette we could enable a new research triangle for digital media.

The vision is that by combining Lafayette's early-mover advantage, wildcatter mentality, and the work we're doing with FiberCorps to spur innovation; along with New Orleans' creative entrepreneurial spirit, national notoriety, and clear needs for help reestablishing itself after Katrina; and roll in Baton Rouge's position as the center of government, the government's emphasis on supporting digital media as a key driver of economic development, as well as the city being the hub for higher ed in the state through LSU, we have all the pieces needed to create a dynamic, collaborative, multifaceted effort to bring to bear on tackling the challenge of driving fiber-powered innovation.

This would be the kind of strategic, long-term thinking I'm hoping Google's employing as they go through their decision making process on which communities to choose. My fear is that they'll pick a couple of disconnected cities and build more islands of connectivity that while they might influence the trajectory of the country, the networks themselves won't have much long-term impact beyond their geographic boundaries.

The reality is that we don't need more islands of connectivity. We already have forty plus cities with fiber in the US that are totally disconnected with very little collaboration happening between them on figuring out what to do with these networks now that they're built.

What we need are more efforts to think strategically from a national perspective about how to foster greater collaboration to realization the potential for innovation locked up in this 21st century communications infrastructure. And I really think that this digital media research triangle concept in south Louisiana is a clear path for achieving this.

So much so that this blog post is aimed not just at Google but also at the state of Louisiana. Digital Media is the industry that's been identified as having the greatest potential for creating jobs in Louisiana in the 21st century. At the same time, I'd argue that fiber networks are the infrastructure with the greatest potential to enable the creation of digital media jobs.

So regardless of what happens with Google, it behooves us as a state to strongly consider the possibility of embarking on an even bolder plan of attack than has already been pursued. While budgets are tight, the money's there to do this, especially if there was a way to combine state, city, and private dollars. The only thing missing is the will to do so and a plan for accomplishing it. But these are both things that can be mustered up with the right people convinced of the vision for what can be done.

At a time of economic uncertainty, our need for visionary plans for how to right our economy has never been greater. The path towards economic success in the 21st century is clear, and will be built in those cities who have found some way to get equipped with the 21st century infrastructure that is fiber.

So whether it's Google, the state, the cities themselves, concerned individuals, or some combination therein, the time is now to realize the opportunity we have to not just hope for a better future but to actually build it by taking what's worked in the past in areas like North Carolina and applying it to the industry that we know matters most moving forward.

So let's find some way to all come together and transform the south Louisiana we know and love into a digital media research triangle for the 21st century.

And as a PS to Google: I promise you there are few, if any, other areas in the country where you could build your fiber that you'd want to actually spend time in more than south Louisiana. If you decide to come down our way, I promise we'll deliver a combination of food, drink, music, outdoor fun, and merry making that you can't find anywhere else with some of the best people on the planet. Just let us know when you're coming so we can make sure to have a big pot of gumbo waiting for you when you arrive!