Gigabit Squared

About Gigabit Squared

Gigabit Squared, LLC was a digital economic development corporation founded in October 2010 by President Mark Ansboury and Executive Vice President Robert Jennings. The firm specialized in the planning, implementation, and rollout of communications infrastructure.

The company's business model was distinct from traditional telecommunications providers. Instead of owning and operating the networks it developed, Gigabit Squared focused on designing and building them, without always handling the financing, ongoing operations, or maintenance. Its primary initiative was the "Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program," which aimed to introduce gigabit-per-second internet access to university communities in the United States. This program operated through partnerships with universities and local governments, who would help lower deployment costs and navigate regulatory hurdles, a strategy similar to Google Fiber's early agreements. For example, the "Gigabit Chicago" project was a partnership with the University of Chicago, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois, with the goal of connecting over 4,800 residents, businesses, and institutions with fiber and wireless services. A similar project, "Gigabit Seattle," was established with the City of Seattle and the University of Washington.

The company secured significant financial backing, including a reported $200 million in venture funding in May 2012 to support its high-speed internet projects. In Chicago, the project was supported by a $2 million state grant, a $2 million commitment from the University of Chicago, and a planned $5 million from Gigabit Squared itself. However, the company faced substantial challenges in raising the necessary capital to follow through on its ambitious plans. The projects in both Seattle and Chicago stalled after the company failed to meet funding goals and fulfill its financial obligations, which included unpaid bills to the City of Seattle. These difficulties ultimately led to the company's dissolution in 2014.