Google Fiber signs agreement for fiber huts in Portland, Ore., moving gigabit plans forward

Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) has taken yet another step forward in its movement into the Portland, Ore., market by securing a first land-use application so it can build fiber huts to deliver 1 Gbps service to area residents.

Although Google Fiber has not announced any formal buildout plans yet for Portland, a report in The Oregonian said the service provider has started putting together a local staff, won tax breaks for the service, and has been talking to Portland's land-use planners to plot out its network.

Google Fiber has also been in discussions with neighborhood associations in Hillsdale and Montavilla about providing service.

Benjamin Kerensa, a Montavilla resident, said Google told his neighborhood association that work on the network could begin this summer. 

No less important is gaining access to existing utility poles.

The service provider has signed utility pole access deals with Portland General Electric and Pacific Power. Additionally, Google Fiber is working out a pole access agreement with CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL), which according to The Oregoniancould happen in the "near future."

While Google Fiber has faced challenges over pole access in other cities like Lexington, Ky., these recent deals are being driven by efforts from city and state leaders to make Oregon an attractive target to build out 1 Gbps service.

Google Fiber would not comment to The Oregonian on the land-use filing. The service provider also applied to put a fiber hut at 4645 Southwest 19^th Avenue. 

Despite not having laid any fiber yet, the threat of Google Fiber has driven incumbent telcos Frontier and CenturyLink and cable provider Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) to announce intentions to offer their own 1 Gbps service to Portland residential customers.