Google announced their plan to deploy 1 Gbps fiber to the home service to a limited number of households back in February, and while they haven't delivered a single bit yet -- the announcement operated as a very effective PR tool --keeping Google's name in the press constantly as a company that was going to change the telecom sector, even if their project will never actually expand beyond a few select test networks.

With press attention waning, Google has launched a new community fiber website and a very feel good video thanking the 1,100 communities and 194,000 individuals that contacted Google in the hopes of deployment in their town.

Google's deployment target won't even be named until late this year, but the website acts as a lobbying tool to help push conduit installs. Specifically, Google apparently wants voters to support a bill that would require installation of conduit in federally-funded transportation projects (we discussed this back in April). Google also offers tips for cities on how to streamline conduit deployment.

All of this good for national fiber, but Google does need to be careful that they don't over-hype their project. While their new video portrays their initiative as some kind of national fiber renaissance, users may wind up disappointed once they realize how limited in scope Google's actual fiber deployments will be. Only between 50,000 and 500,000 users will ever see this service, and Google has repeatedly stated they have no interest in being a national carrier.

As such, people need to be fully aware that while a positive thing, Google's effort isn't a revolution in communications. It's a public relations tool, a next-generation advertising test bed, and a political weapon.