Google gains grassroots support for super-fast Internet project

Google's plans to build ultra-fast Internet networks have sparked a citizen-lobbying effort on Facebook.

Several hundred groups have cropped up on the social network in the two weeks since Google announced it would choose a few testbed markets around the country for its broadband experiment. Google promised its networks would have speeds of one gigabit-per-second, about 100 times faster than the typical broadband connections. Google hasn't said how many testbed markets it plans to choose, although Martin said the company will probably select at least one rural area as well as an urban locale. Google's networks will serve between 50,000 and 500,000 people, so it would not cover an entire city.

Communities must submit their ideas to Google by March 26.