Google ultra high speed fiber application closes today, attention picks up

Nearly one month after the announcement came at Ignite Philly, widespread attention for the City of Philadelphia applying to partner with Google on its proposed ultra-high speed internet experiment has finally come.
The deadline for applications is today. That has led local politicians scrambling to social media to sure up their tech credentials and community support, and, yes, a Philadelphia media binge.

As we previously reported, Philly Startup Leaders is offering a $5,000 prize for the best idea submitted to Gigabit Philly, the joint Web venture between a collection of city officials and a crush of technology community members. As Peter Key of the Philadelphia Business Journal later reported, the total bounty has surpassed $8,000.
Mike Armstrong of the Inquirer then reported that the PSL total came after the group was “underwhelmed” by ideas put forth so far, including an appearance by City Chief Technology Officer Allan Frank.
The attention has gone beyond legacy media.
Joey Sweeney over at Philebrity hopped on the Google train, penning a letter asking the giant to come here. Duck Duck Go founder Gabe Weinberg made his case for why a city as large as Philadelphia would be a good fit for the Google experiment, and wherever Jonny Goldstein is, there will be drawings making the case.
Armstrong of the Inquirer also led his Philadelphia Business Today video podcast with the Google item, as seen below.
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/21394222001?isVid=1&publisherID=20779451001