There seems to be some operational content in this C|Net News.com
article:
<http://news.com.com/Why+Google+hired+Vint+Cerf/2100-1038_3-5855650.html?tag=nefd.lede>
Specifically,
"The Mountain View, Calif., company has been investing heavily in a
communications infrastructure, buying up dark fiber, or fiber-optic cable
that's already been laid but is not yet in use. In July, it also invested
in Current Communications, a company that provides technology for
delivering broadband Net access over power lines."