Google has always tiptoed around directly providing internet access to consumers with things like free airport Wi-Fi and the free Wi-Fi network it runs in Mountain View, but the company announced that it's getting in the game for real with the launch of a fiber-based ISP service that'll offer 1Gbps speeds at "competitive prices" to select markets. The idea is to provide next generation access to between 50,000 and 500,000 people and basically see what happens, and as you'd expect, the new network will be a poster child for Google's pro-net-neutrality efforts. Sounds good to us, but we've all got a way to go before Eric Schmidt comes over with the lightpipe. Google's just now asking for "interested communities" to apply, and launch markets will be announced later this year. Google bought a lot of fiber back in 2005 and sparked a lot of rumors of a "GoogleNet". It's probably unrelated, but at least there's a name to kick around. By Kwabena Offei-Nkrumah, Myjoyonlinecom / Ghana