San Diego wants more optic fiber

Google Fiber, which is negotiating behind closed doors with San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer over the terms of possible high-speed internet system here to compete with cable operators and AT&T, has signed on the international law firm of Perkins Coie to handle influence-peddling chores here. According to a June 15 filing, lobbying involves “submission of potential application for installation of fiber-optic service network in the city of San Diego.”

La Jolla–based General Atomics, maker of the Predator killer drone and other lethal weapons, is opening a branch office in New Delhi, India. “We are looking forward to continuing to enhance our cooperation with India by working with the US government to provide the Indian Navy with persistent, operationally proven maritime domain awareness,” CEO Linden Blue, who runs the firm with his brother Neal Blue, said in a news release. In addition to military hardware, the brothers also specialize in Australian uranium mining and sales, with their business getting a big prospective boost from last year’s deal made by the Obama administration to sell nuclear reactors to India.

A team of Pentagon auditors is expected soon in San Diego to “determine the effectiveness of antiterrorism programs” at Defense Department installations. According to a recent memo, “the audit will determine whether DoD installations are optimizing existing resources to mitigate risk, achieve efficiencies, and reduce redundancies.” Locations to be evaluated include Fort Bliss, Texas; Naval Base San Diego, California; Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.